Virtually Climb a Volcano Visit the following website and choose one location (l
ID: 121371 • Letter: V
Question
Virtually Climb a Volcano
Visit the following website and choose one location (link) of the 10 virtual excursions listed under “Virtual Excursions”.
http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/virtual-excursions/index-en.html
Stromboli online - Volcanoes of the World by Jürg Alean, Roberto Carniel and Marco Fulle – this website can be used for virtual fieldtrips as well as a resource.
Choose only one location of the 10 virtual excursions listed. If you choose a link that has sub-links (more than one virtual tour) then pick only one of them.
Write at least one-page description of the virtual tour you took.
Explanation / Answer
http://www.swisseduc.ch/stromboli/perm/erta/virtualwalk/index-en.html
Erta Ale
A virtual day on this great volcano
This is a totally unique and thrilling experience and you need to allow at least 3 or 4 days to appreciate it fully. We travelled again with Quest Ethiopia Tours (licensed operator) who we would highly recommend – Dagi our guide is experienced, knowledgeable and great fun and we felt completely relaxed and safe with him. We came up from Semera after visiting Awash national park and as we approached the Afar region, the scenery became more and more arid, baked, sandy, rocky and dramatic. It is hard to imagine how the local people manage to survive here. Dagi uses 2 vehicles due to the harshness of the environment and the need to have back-up transport. (You cannot afford to take risks in an area which is one of the hottest places on the planet.) We were so fortkunate to have him as our guide as he ensured we left before the bigger groups, and as a result, he was able to give us the benefit of having the first 45 minutes at the rim of the crater before anyone else arrived. This was so special as it meant we were able to really appreciate the sight and sound of the lava without any distractions from other tourists. Incredible. I was worried we would find the climb too challenging at night but it was fine, the prospect of seeing the lava lake was incentive enough. Do not expect a neat, easy little path with sign-posts and safety barriers though – the ground is rough and the heat and fumes are strong BUT it is utterly incredible and provides a totally unedited glimpse of what most people can only imagine – the very essence of planet earth! Nothing can prepare you for the final scramble to the crater rim when you are suddenly hit by the heat, smell, sound and incredible sight of the rolling lave lake below, sending plumes and gobbets of molten rock up into the air. We were mesmerised and couldn't tear ourselves away from this surreal experience. We slept for a while on mattresses in a shelter before returning for a final tantalising view at 4.30am. This will make you appreciate mother natures raw power and feel very small in the face of it. If you can, combine this with the weird and alien scenery of the Danakil depression which is totally unique. The scenery is bizarre, like an alien landscape. Pools of neon coloured liquid bubble and fix and a crust of bright yellow and green is broken every w minutes with a fizzing burst of sulphur-smelling gas.
The camping is basic but comfortable and we managed a hot bowl-wash using water that had been heated by the fierce sun on the roofs of the vehicles. Contact Dagi of Quest Ethiopia Tours who will suggest various options.
We have travelled with him to the following places which are definitely worth seeing if you have the time:
Danakil Depression has a bizarre landscape of neon coloured fizzing, bubbling sulphur lakes and weird rock formations. See the salt extraction by locals working in the intense heat which is then transported by camel salt trains to be sold and exported. Fascinating.
Simien Mountains are incredibly dramatic. It’s possible to do lazy trekking in a short amount of time or longer treks combined with camping. See the fascinating Gelada Baboons up close and watch the actions of the powerful bone-breaker bird with the stunning craggy scenery in the background.
Gondar has great historical interest and you can spend time walking through the castles and palace compounds of Ethiopian Emperors. The Fasilides baths are nearby, where hundreds of pilgrims visit for being baptised during the holy festival of Timket.
Beneshengal Gumuz is an area in the west…very off the beaten track, lots of colourful and varied markets, fascinating gold mining methods, welcoming people and different tribal cultures.
Western Omo Valley for a memorable experience with the Surma tribe, trekking between a couple of villages, watch locals bleed their cattle and see their unusual body scarification and lip plates. Fascinating.
South Omo Valley to experience different tribal cultures such as the Dorze, Hamer, Yangatom, Dassenach, Konso and Erbore. Also visit Arba Minch and see huge crocodiles from a boat on the lake. Great birdlife in the area too.
Kaffa Region for visiting coffee plantations amongst lush vegetation with walking opportunities to the Colombo and Barta Waterfalls and maybe a visit to a ‘tedj beit’ (local ‘pub’) for refreshing tella or honey-made wine.
Chebura Chechura is a beautifully scenic area with wildlife opportunities, not well known so no crowds of visitors.
Awash National Park is much drier and arid than Chebura but again has good wildlife and birding opportunities.
Bale Mountains have unusual and beautiful flora and fauna. There is a great variety of wildlife including some of the species indigenous to Ethiopia. We saw the rare Simien Wolf and walked the last km to the second highest peak in Ethiopia which at 4377m makes you quite breathless and has stunning scenery.
Lake Wenchi is a crater lake and has gorgeous scenic walks around it. It’s a great place to camp and the deep water makes for an exhilarating swim!
Lake Awasa for delicious fresh fish, (we caught our own!) and birdlife.
Lake Langana one of the Rift Valley lakes which is good for birdwatching, walking and is fine to swim in.
Lake Zengana is another charming lake, set amongst forest area with good birdlife and pretty walks.
A virtual day on this great volcano
This is a totally unique and thrilling experience and you need to allow at least 3 or 4 days to appreciate it fully. We travelled again with Quest Ethiopia Tours (licensed operator) who we would highly recommend – Dagi our guide is experienced, knowledgeable and great fun and we felt completely relaxed and safe with him. We came up from Semera after visiting Awash national park and as we approached the Afar region, the scenery became more and more arid, baked, sandy, rocky and dramatic. It is hard to imagine how the local people manage to survive here. Dagi uses 2 vehicles due to the harshness of the environment and the need to have back-up transport. (You cannot afford to take risks in an area which is one of the hottest places on the planet.) We were so fortkunate to have him as our guide as he ensured we left before the bigger groups, and as a result, he was able to give us the benefit of having the first 45 minutes at the rim of the crater before anyone else arrived. This was so special as it meant we were able to really appreciate the sight and sound of the lava without any distractions from other tourists. Incredible. I was worried we would find the climb too challenging at night but it was fine, the prospect of seeing the lava lake was incentive enough. Do not expect a neat, easy little path with sign-posts and safety barriers though – the ground is rough and the heat and fumes are strong BUT it is utterly incredible and provides a totally unedited glimpse of what most people can only imagine – the very essence of planet earth! Nothing can prepare you for the final scramble to the crater rim when you are suddenly hit by the heat, smell, sound and incredible sight of the rolling lave lake below, sending plumes and gobbets of molten rock up into the air. We were mesmerised and couldn't tear ourselves away from this surreal experience. We slept for a while on mattresses in a shelter before returning for a final tantalising view at 4.30am. This will make you appreciate mother natures raw power and feel very small in the face of it. If you can, combine this with the weird and alien scenery of the Danakil depression which is totally unique. The scenery is bizarre, like an alien landscape. Pools of neon coloured liquid bubble and fix and a crust of bright yellow and green is broken every w minutes with a fizzing burst of sulphur-smelling gas.
The camping is basic but comfortable and we managed a hot bowl-wash using water that had been heated by the fierce sun on the roofs of the vehicles. Contact Dagi of Quest Ethiopia Tours who will suggest various options.
We have travelled with him to the following places which are definitely worth seeing if you have the time:
Danakil Depression has a bizarre landscape of neon coloured fizzing, bubbling sulphur lakes and weird rock formations. See the salt extraction by locals working in the intense heat which is then transported by camel salt trains to be sold and exported. Fascinating.
Simien Mountains are incredibly dramatic. It’s possible to do lazy trekking in a short amount of time or longer treks combined with camping. See the fascinating Gelada Baboons up close and watch the actions of the powerful bone-breaker bird with the stunning craggy scenery in the background.
Gondar has great historical interest and you can spend time walking through the castles and palace compounds of Ethiopian Emperors. The Fasilides baths are nearby, where hundreds of pilgrims visit for being baptised during the holy festival of Timket.
Beneshengal Gumuz is an area in the west…very off the beaten track, lots of colourful and varied markets, fascinating gold mining methods, welcoming people and different tribal cultures.
Western Omo Valley for a memorable experience with the Surma tribe, trekking between a couple of villages, watch locals bleed their cattle and see their unusual body scarification and lip plates. Fascinating.
South Omo Valley to experience different tribal cultures such as the Dorze, Hamer, Yangatom, Dassenach, Konso and Erbore. Also visit Arba Minch and see huge crocodiles from a boat on the lake. Great birdlife in the area too.
Kaffa Region for visiting coffee plantations amongst lush vegetation with walking opportunities to the Colombo and Barta Waterfalls and maybe a visit to a ‘tedj beit’ (local ‘pub’) for refreshing tella or honey-made wine.
Chebura Chechura is a beautifully scenic area with wildlife opportunities, not well known so no crowds of visitors.
Awash National Park is much drier and arid than Chebura but again has good wildlife and birding opportunities.
Bale Mountains have unusual and beautiful flora and fauna. There is a great variety of wildlife including some of the species indigenous to Ethiopia. We saw the rare Simien Wolf and walked the last km to the second highest peak in Ethiopia which at 4377m makes you quite breathless and has stunning scenery.
Lake Wenchi is a crater lake and has gorgeous scenic walks around it. It’s a great place to camp and the deep water makes for an exhilarating swim!
Lake Awasa for delicious fresh fish, (we caught our own!) and birdlife.
Lake Langana one of the Rift Valley lakes which is good for birdwatching, walking and is fine to swim in.
Lake Zengana is another charming lake, set amongst forest area with good birdlife and pretty walks.
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