Know the world: Volcanic Sites

The location of the Chaparrastique Volcano, El Salvador.

El Salvador is the smallest country in Central America and it is the most populated (nearly six million) country also. The capital city and the largest city of this country is San Salvador. Salvadoreans are the natives of this country and Spanish is the official language and is spoken by almost all inhabitants.

El Salvador has a tropical climate like Sri lanka which are pronounced wet season and dry season. The destructive earth quakes and volcanic eruptions have a long lasting history in El Salvador. This country has twenty three active volcanoes, although only two, Chaparrastique(San Miguel) and Izalco have been active in recent years. Chaparrastique is 2,129 meters above sea level and this is the third highest volcano in the country. Further this is considered as one of the most active volcanoes. This is recorded with twenty six volcanic eruptions in the last five hundred years according to the statement of the environmental ministry of the country. In 1976 eruption, lava gushed from this volcano and in 2010 it shook violently.

Very recently, 29th December 2013 the Chaparrastique volcano, which is about 140 kilometers east of San Salvador, the capital, spewed ash over a wide area known for its coffee plantations. This eruption produced gases combined with small emissions of ash. Indeed this is a quite strong explosion.

The nearest International airport is only 50 kilometers away from this Chaparratique volcano. Actually, this is the first eruption the recent thirty seven years. Tourist, mostly from Europian countries seek out El Salvador’s beaches and nightlife. The beaches here are much famous for surfing due to the large waves from Pacific Ocean.

The Google Map view showing the location of Chaparrastique Volcano and other nearest volcanoes.

The close up view of Chaparrastique Volcano, El Salvador.

The Chaparrastique Volcano eruption in late December 2013.

Dark cloud of ass expels from the erupted Chaparrastique Volcano. (December 2013)

Waw an Namus - Volcanic crater - Libya.

“Waw an Namus” you may astonish what is it. It is an extinct volcanic crater, which means a dead volcanic hole. It is one of the remote locations in Libya. Indeed it is located almost at the geographic center of the Sahara desert. Further this is often referred to as the eighth natural wonder of the world.

This is about four kilometers in width, with one hundred meters deep cone of the volcano which is known as ‘Caldere’ which has yellow Sulphur deposits around its one hundred and fifty meters width crater. Further this volcano is surrounded by an area of black deposit of ash which is spread 10 to 20 kilometers in width. This is the main reason for its appearance as the ‘Dark spot’ in the Google Earth.

More over on the floor of the ‘Caldera’ you can see three small salty, coloured lakes which are infested with mosquitoes and be as the especial reason for the name of the volcano ‘Waw an Namus’. Because ‘Waw an Namus’ means ‘Oasis of Mosquitoes’ or ‘The Crater of the Mosquitoes’

Let us see how we all happened to get to know about this volcano. This volcano was first stated by ‘Karl Moritz Von Beurmann and Gerard Rohlfs who had never visited this site. A French Military Officer, Laurent Lapierre had the first opportunity to visit this in 1920 and reported this as an important watering point. About 1930 an Italian Geologist, Ardito Desio reached this site during his well known long camel journey through Sahara desert and published a geological description of this scenic volcano for the first time in 1935. After the Second World War, this volcano became a specific location of research for scientist and geologist.

Nowadays this is the main destination in the Sahara desert for the most number of tourists who visit the Deserts. As the oasis here are known as the ‘Oasis of Mosquitoes’ camping nearby this site requires mosquito nets or repellents. Really those three small lakes in the area are the reason of attraction and urge for many travellers to visit here.