Friday 30 March 2007

Beauty contest

So my last two blogs have been a bit technical, but perhaps some of you have learnt something from outside your normal areas of interest. So I thought for a little break, and to let your brains recover we could have a beauty contest. My collegues have referred to this as gratuitous volcano-porn, but what the hell its friday afternoon! So which of these four beauties gets your vote as the most beautiful volcano?

First up: Mount Fuji, Japan. One of the m
ost famous volcanoes in the world, and looking at this picture it's clear to see why.


Secondly: Mount Stromboli, Italy. Stromboli is famous for its "fire-fountains" and shown in tihs picture is a perfect example.


Thirdly: Kilauea, Hawaii. This low viscosity basaltic magma pouring from the volcano produces these spectacular lava flows.
..


...and last but not least: Parinacota, Chile. Its difficult to pick the "most beautiful" volcano from the Andes as there are so many equally fine candidates. However, for me Parinacota has just a little something extra.


So, the contestants are lined up and waiting for you to decide which of them is most worthy of the title "most beautiful volcano". Cast your votes!

11 comments:

Malacoda said...

I can only go on the pictures you have here, but as only two are 'doing' volcanic stuff, and fire fountains aren't my thing, it will have to be Kilauea.

TheBrummell said...

(Mount Fuji)...looking at this picture it's clear to see why.

Fame has more to do with the number of people who know about something than with any intrinsic properties. That picture does not capture either the population density of Japan nor the cultural signifance accrued to Mt. Fuji over the course of Japan's history.

Sorry, I'm feeling a little Pedantic today, since I'm marking student essays...

Otherwise, I'm going to say that of the four pictures posted, my personal favourite is Kilauea, for the strong colour contrast and outside-of-everyday experience represented in a pyroclastic flow (note: not a geologist - is that actually a pyroclastic flow?).

Sarda Sahney said...

No, sorry its a lava flow and not a pyroclastic flow...

Pyroclastic flows are high density mixtures of hot, dry rock fragments and hot gases. They typically move at over 60 mph and reach temperatures over 800C.

Thanks for your votes!

John D. Orcutt said...

Given the choices, I've got to go with one of the stratovolcanoes, but I'm torn between Fuji and Parinacota. I also feel compelled to point out that those of us in the Northwest U.S. would argue that our Cascade volcanoes are every bit as beautiful as Fuji or the Andes. What about Mt. Baker? Mt. Hood? Crater Lake (not technically active, I realize, but I challenge you to find a more gorgeous caldera anywhere)? Just food for thought...

Anonymous said...

I like Kilauea, Hawaii.

Anonymous said...

Kilauea also gets my vote, at least on the basis of that marvellous photo. Tough to choose, though!

kylebeabo said...

I vote Kilauea as well.

Unknown said...

Uhm I'd wote for Mt Fuji, but it isn't doing anything vulcanic. So, being italian, I am left to vote for Stromboli, I guess - although I think Naple's Vesuvio is more beatiful.

Anonymous said...

excellent points and the details are more specific than elsewhere, thanks.

- Murk

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Saturday.

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