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Vanuatu May 2009: excursion to Marum crater

When we arrived on Ambrym, we got news of a new lava lake inside one of the vents in Marum crater. Despite quite bad weather, we managed to get to the crater rim and catch a good glimpses of the boiling lava lake, around 20 m wide, beneath our feet.

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The volcanic ash layers covering the flat caldera floor, carved by erosion. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
The volcanic ash layers covering the flat caldera floor, carved by erosion. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Bizarre erossion structures of the ash plain in the Ambrym caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Bizarre erossion structures of the ash plain in the Ambrym caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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On the way to Marum, we follow a large valley cutting through undulated older ash deposits. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
On the way to Marum, we follow a large valley cutting through undulated older ash deposits. (Photo:...
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The group is now near the crater complex. It's foggy and gas masks are already sometimes needed. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
The group is now near the crater complex. It's foggy and gas masks are already sometimes needed. (Ph...
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To get to the rim of Marum, we first have to circle it and descend a bit again, following a ridge in a moon-like landscape of ash, erosion gullies and (fortunately not recent) volcanic blocks and bombs. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
To get to the rim of Marum, we first have to circle it and descend a bit again, following a ridge in...
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Finally, we're there! Despite the fog and light rain (still quite good conditions for Ambrym standards!), we can catch first glimpses of the boiling lava lake beneath the observation position. Pieter takes some photos. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Finally, we're there! Despite the fog and light rain (still quite good conditions for Ambrym standar...
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Zoom onto the 20-m wide lava lake from above. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Zoom onto the 20-m wide lava lake from above. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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At times, the fog and the steam clouds in the crater lessen and permit views of the surrounding vertical crater walls. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
At times, the fog and the steam clouds in the crater lessen and permit views of the surrounding vert...
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View of the lava lake inside Marum crater (Ambrym volcano) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
View of the lava lake inside Marum crater (Ambrym volcano) (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Fountaining in the lava lake sometimes throws out larger amounts of lava. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Fountaining in the lava lake sometimes throws out larger amounts of lava. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Our group observing the volcanic action beneath them. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Our group observing the volcanic action beneath them. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Photographer photographing other photographers... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Photographer photographing other photographers... (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Ulla testing her new camera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Ulla testing her new camera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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On the way back at night, a group shot is being arranged with the background of the red lit sky above Benbow and Marum. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
On the way back at night, a group shot is being arranged with the background of the red lit sky abov...
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Lightnings and lava illuminate dramatic cloud formations above the caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Lightnings and lava illuminate dramatic cloud formations above the caldera. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
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Wide-angle view over the caldera at night while a thunderstorm is in the background above the glowing craters. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer)
Wide-angle view over the caldera at night while a thunderstorm is in the background above the glowin...
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