Question: Whats your favourite volcano?

Kate Dobson answered on 10 Nov 2014:

I have worked the most on the volcano of Kilauea on Hawaii, so I think that has to be my favorite, although I also have a soft spot for the Island of Rum in Scotland, which is an ancient (and now extinct) volcano where you can look at what was once the magma chamber.

I am happy visiting any volcano… but if we are talking wishes….there are three volcanoes I would really like to visit,

The first two are in Africa. Erta Ale is in Ethiopia and exists because the Arfican continent is breaking apart and “unzipping”. It has a large lava lake in the caldera that has been active for over 100 years. Have a look at the images of Erta Ale on the internet and you’ll see why I want to go!

The second volcano is possibly the “strangest” volcano on Earth. It’s called Ol Doinyo Lengai and is in Tanzania. Most volcanoes erupt lava that is made of silicate minerals (lots of silicon), but Lengai is different. It is one of a very few volcanoes that erupt carbonatite lavas (carbon based minerals, which are molten at much lower temperatures (at ~500 degrees C rather that at ~800-1200 degrees C). The exact origin of these magmas is still being investigated.

My third choice would be Mount Erebus. This volcano is like Erta Ale in that is has a lava lake that has been active for a long time, but has the added bonus of being in Antarctica, somewhere I’ve always wanted to visit. Volcanoes, penguins and glaciers in the same trip… Yes please.