Skylights and lava falls in Valle del Bove: photos and videosJürg Alean and Marco Fulle again visited Etna's flank eruption just after the autumn full moon. Whereas on the first evening most lava was confined to tunnels, one day later a magma uprise had pushed away the vent hornito. From then on the lava flows were much more open and cascaded in spectacular falls best seen from the vertical dikes of Serra Giannicola. Pictures link to larger photos (lens focal length helps to understand scales). All times are local (GMT + 2hr). | |||
 1. Oct. 18h, f=28mm. The hornito at the 2620m vent is unchanged since 14. Sep. |  1. Oct. 18h, f=135mm. Inside the hornito the orange lava flow carries magma bubbles. |  1. Oct. 18h, f=28mm. At 50m below the vent Jürg discovers a skylight on the lava tunnel. |  1. Oct. 18h, f=28mm. Close to the skylight the flow sublimates white sulfate deposits. |
 1. Oct. 18h, f=15mm. Near Serra Giannicola we meet Wolf Müller at another skylight. |  1. Oct. 18h, f=28mm. The surface of this skylight has just formed a thin brown skin. |  1. Oct. 18h, f=135mm. A close-up reveals tiny wavelets on the lava skin. |  1. Oct. 18h, f=135mm. Etna guides call these rare wavelets «lava flowers». |
 2. Oct. 15h, f=135mm from Belvedere. Walking towards the lava field through fumaroles. |  2. Oct. 16h, f=28mm. This morning the hornito was destroyed by a magma uprise. |  2. Oct. 16h, f=28mm. Dangerous approach of the vent on a sliding ash slope. |  2. Oct. 16h, f=28mm. Giovanni Tomarchio, Turi Carbonaro and tourists around the flow. |
 1. Oct. 18h, f=135mm. While Wolf Müller admires the lava disappearing in a tunnel... |  2. Oct. 17h, f=50mm. ...Jürg is filming the new flow's huge fall below Serra Giannicola. |  2. Oct. 18h, f=135mm. Close-up of the liquid fall over which red blocks crash and tumble. |  2. Oct. 18h, f=50mm. The flows go far down into Valle del Bove in the dissolving fog. |
 2. Oct. 19h, f=28mm from Serra Giannicola. The new huge flow emerges from the vent pointing towards the new falls across Serra Giannicola. |  2. Oct. 20h, f=28mm. A close-up view of the «enchanted castle» of Serra Giannicola in the red smoke and dust coming from the lava falls on the left. |  2. Oct. 21h, f=28mm. Above the vent of the flow dividing into two branches, the full moon rises over the city lights of Calabria in the red scenario of the eruption. |  2. Oct. 22h, f=15mm from Belvedere. Many lava flows in Valle del Bove. Full moon above the Pleiades with Perseus and Auriga on the left. Clear view from Calabria (left) to Taormina (center) and Giarre (right). |