subject: Volcano Rocks Tourism Industry [print this page] Tourism to active volcano es is suddenly surging thanks in part to the recent volcanic activity of Icelands volcano Eyjafjallajokull. On Wednesday April 14th, Eyjafjallajokull erupted, forcing the evacuation of 700 people. The volcano was thought to be dormant, not having erupted since 1821. The eruption was such a major event that it forced most of Europe into a no-fly zone, stranding travelers across the world.
The volcano drew spectators so close that some were pelted by rocks and ash. Some innovative chefs took advantage of the situation by realizing that the lava was not only a tourist draw, but a good source of heat, where they sold lava-grilled lobster at top dollar. Would that then be a rock lobster? Im curious.
Visiting a volcano is risky business because you never know when a new fissure will crack open. Volcanoes are unpredictable by nature, volatile, not to mention deadly. Volcanoes have the power to shape the earth by creating and destroying land, in addition to changing global climate for centuries.
One of the most notorious and deadly volcanic eruptions was Italys Mt. Vesuvius explosion in 79 AD, which led to the destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum and resulted in the death of an astounding 10,000 to 25,000 people.
The fury of nature has such magnetic appeal to thrill-seekers, geologists, and the curiosity of human nature that there is a whole specialized branch of the tourism industry catering to volcanic destinations.
Some of the more popular tourist volcanoes are:
Mount Mayon, Philippines
Towering at 8,081 feet, this volcano is one of the worlds most active volcanoes and said to be one of the most beautiful.
Mount Etna, Italy
Sicilys 10,922 foot Etna is the largest volcano is Europe. Etna erupted smoke rings, an extremely rare event, in the 1970s and then again in 2000.
Mount Rainier, Washington USA
Standing taller than Mount Etna at 14,410 feet, Rainier (which is also a national park) has been described as a utopia for adventure tourists and is the most heavily glaciated peak in the continental United States.
Personally, I would rather view the many spectacular images of volcanic activity that are available online with my satellite Internet than put myself in any kind of danger, but what can I say, my sense of adventure resides on cold, stable ground. However, if being up close and personal to one of these great giants floats your boat, there are many tourist companies ready to take you on a powerful trip you arent likely to forget. They include:
Go Magma (gomagma.com)
Go Magma promises you an extraordinary experience with local or international volcano experts and the opportunity to return home with pictures everyone will want to see, with safety being one of their primary concerns.
Volcano Discovery (volcanodiscovery.com)
Volcano Discovery offers tours to volcanic areas for small groups and individuals and offers accompaniment by volcano experts, who will guide you through your experience and share their wealth of knowledge.
Volcano Travel (volcanolive.com)
John Seach has 21 years of tour guiding, and his services have been used by Discovery Channel, BBC TV, Land Rover, Japanese TV, and National Geographic. Departures every day of the year!
There are many other volcano touring companies around the globe, so hop online, do some research, and pick one that is right for you.
by: Hugo Grosz
welcome to Insurances.net (https://www.insurances.net)
