Do you love learning about exciting geological phenomena? Then why not embark on your very own volcano trail of Tuscany before visiting some or all of the fascinating volcano sites in Italy? This wonderful country contains the only active volcanoes in mainland Europe and although no active volcanoes remain in Tuscany, tourists are sure to enjoy a trail to some dormant sites to learn more about their fiery past!
Check out some fantastic villas with special offers in Tuscany to stay at for your adventurous vacation!
Check out some fantastic villas with special offers in Tuscany to stay at for your adventurous vacation!
Begin your adventure with a visit to the Larderello district of Pomarance in Tuscany where over a dozen craters litter the land. The last eruption occurred here in 1282 from a crater which is now filled with water and is called Lake Vecchienna. It was a phreatic eruption which means a pressurised cloud of boiling steam mixed with ash and rock forced its way upwards, shooting high into the air. This type of eruption occurs when magma (underground molten rock) heats the underbelly of the volcano to extreme temperatures. Despite the many centuries that have passed since the last eruption of Larderello, this area is still pretty hot!
It actually produces 10% of the world entire supply of geothermal electricity which run many hundreds of thousands of Italian homes. Tourists can bathes in the hot sulphur infused thermal springs here which have many medicinal properties during their travels of the area. And be sure to see the aptly named ‘Valle del Diavolo’ meaning Devil’s Valley. This is an eerily strange area of land where random bursts of water and steam rise up from crevices in the earth due to the intense geothermal activity still occurring beneath the earth’s surface. It’s quite a surreal sight to behold to bring you camera to record the action!
It actually produces 10% of the world entire supply of geothermal electricity which run many hundreds of thousands of Italian homes. Tourists can bathes in the hot sulphur infused thermal springs here which have many medicinal properties during their travels of the area. And be sure to see the aptly named ‘Valle del Diavolo’ meaning Devil’s Valley. This is an eerily strange area of land where random bursts of water and steam rise up from crevices in the earth due to the intense geothermal activity still occurring beneath the earth’s surface. It’s quite a surreal sight to behold to bring you camera to record the action!
Mount Amiata is a perfect example of a lava dome formation. Lava domes are volcanic mountains that are capped with a hardened lava dome due to the viscous lava that slowly pushed up to the surface from beneath the rock.
Because of the thickness of the lava, it moved very little since its eruption and hardened into a type of dome over the crater. The last major volcanic activity occurred on Mount Amiata around 300,000 years ago.
So what are you waiting for, come closer and see these fascinating areas of Tuscany for yourself on your next thrilling vacation here!
Because of the thickness of the lava, it moved very little since its eruption and hardened into a type of dome over the crater. The last major volcanic activity occurred on Mount Amiata around 300,000 years ago.
So what are you waiting for, come closer and see these fascinating areas of Tuscany for yourself on your next thrilling vacation here!
Photo credits
picture 3: Zyance / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 3: Zyance / CC BY-SA 3.0
