As I previously mentioned, Lanzarote is a volcanic island. And almost one third of it still covered in volcanic stones and ashes. Somewhere in 1800-ies more then 100 volcanoes erupted, devastating part of the island and forever changing its landscape. Due to the climate there appears to be lack of erosion process and the area looks pretty much like it did just after eruption. Making the place very unique.
They transform it into national park now and if you happened to be on Lanzarote, you can miss everything else for the sake of the beach, but volcanoes are the must see! They call them The Montañas del Fuego – Fire Mountains. And not without a reason. The temperatures just a few meters below the surface reach between 400°C and 600°C! Now that’s hot to my opinion.
They entertain the tourists with a few “demonstrations” before taking them on an unforgettable journey at volcanic route. Dry bush thrown into a hole in the ground catches fire in 20 seconds (no matches used, of course), or the water poured into a bore hole erupts seconds later in the form of steam – like a mini-geyser. Or they put in our hands a handful of the gravels picked up from the surface, right where we were standing – many just threw them down straight away - the gravels burned the palm!
But of course, no scientific demonstration compares to the natural wonders that we saw when we ventured into the lava fields…the route is spectacular and hard to describe in words. You just get that feeling that you left the Earth and wandering the moonscape…the sun coloured the volcanoes in various hues, smoothly merging from one into another…different angel – another colour…magical!
Since the words won’t do it justice, take a look at the pictures of what I saw in Timanfaya. (no Photoshop involved!)
They transform it into national park now and if you happened to be on Lanzarote, you can miss everything else for the sake of the beach, but volcanoes are the must see! They call them The Montañas del Fuego – Fire Mountains. And not without a reason. The temperatures just a few meters below the surface reach between 400°C and 600°C! Now that’s hot to my opinion.
They entertain the tourists with a few “demonstrations” before taking them on an unforgettable journey at volcanic route. Dry bush thrown into a hole in the ground catches fire in 20 seconds (no matches used, of course), or the water poured into a bore hole erupts seconds later in the form of steam – like a mini-geyser. Or they put in our hands a handful of the gravels picked up from the surface, right where we were standing – many just threw them down straight away - the gravels burned the palm!
But of course, no scientific demonstration compares to the natural wonders that we saw when we ventured into the lava fields…the route is spectacular and hard to describe in words. You just get that feeling that you left the Earth and wandering the moonscape…the sun coloured the volcanoes in various hues, smoothly merging from one into another…different angel – another colour…magical!
Since the words won’t do it justice, take a look at the pictures of what I saw in Timanfaya. (no Photoshop involved!)
