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Kurile Islands, July 2019: Raikoke volcano
During our pilot expedition to the northern Kuriles in July 2019, we managed to reach the very remote and isolated island of Raikoke, which had just had a major eruption 3 weeks earlier. The eruption had transformed a previously lush, completely green island full of life into a hellish ash desert:
After sailing more than 100 miles over night, we are suddenly accompanied by thousands of sea birds ... [
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(204 visti)
We are approaching the island volcano Raikoke which has erupted with a devastating large explosion o... [
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(233 visti)
Wide-angle view of the island (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(368 visti)
Large ash deltas deposited from pyroclastic flows are blanketed over the slopes and shores. (Photo: ... [
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(175 visti)
The air is filled with ash and volcanic gasses, making the approach difficult. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(135 visti)
Strong winds pick up dust from the fresh ash deposits. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(165 visti)
View of the ash delta (deposit of a pyroclastic flow, a hot avalanche that descended here during the... [
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(135 visti)
Close-up of the contact between older rocks and the new deposit. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(133 visti)
The crater of the volcano was still emitting lots of gas, making it very uncomfortable staying downw... [
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(160 visti)
Strong and shifting winds make it impossible to find a safe anchorage, unfortunately. (Photo: Tom Pf... [
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(271 visti)
The thousands of birds circling over and around the island probably are confused and looking for the... [
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(161 visti)
Hopefully, they can survive and find new places? (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(152 visti)
The ambience is sinister, increased by the ash picked up with the winds. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(152 visti)
After a while, wind continues to be strong and changing, so we had to abandon our plan to land and t... [
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(147 visti)
Looking back to Raikoke (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(302 visti)
Our skillful skippers Sascha and Gregory. (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) [
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(116 visti)
