1 - 8 November 2006: Flow and Spattering in Valle del BoveWhile the West end of the dike splitting the South East Cone alternates between short paroxysms and long pauses, the East end erupts at a much more constant effusive rate (about 2 cubic meters per second) from a vent at 2800m.a.s.l. in Valle del Bove. Here we show spectacular spattering at the vent hornito, skylights and waves in the lava flow. All times are local (GMT + 1hr). Focal length of the lenses used on a digicam is given (to be multiplied by 1.5 to obtain the equivalent focal length on 24x36 film). | |||
 8 Nov, 15h, f=50mm. Etna Guide Alfio Mazzaglia on the left serves as scale for the spattering hornito.
|  8 Nov, 15h, f=135mm. Spattering at the hornito: from the vent a lava flow comes towards the camera.
|  8 Nov, 15h, f=135mm. Another vent on the right side erupts spectacular "bubbles" and another flow.
|  8 Nov, 15h, f=135mm. The incandescent air above the flow at right defocuses Pizzi Deneri in the background.
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 8 Nov, 15h, f=135mm. Telephoto view of a lava "bubble" about two meters wide. Note Pele's hairs among the red clots.
|  8 Nov, 16h, f=135mm. Another view of the same spattering hornito during sunset.
|  1 Nov, 14h, f=16mm. A skylight about 20 meters long lets us see the lava flow just below the vent.
|  1 Nov, 14h, f=135mm. Telephoto view of the orange glowing lava flow five meters below our feet.
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 1 Nov, 15h, f=50mm. Suddenly a wave a whole meter high overrides the flow in the narrow channel.
|  1 Nov, 15h, f=50mm. After the wave has passed, the flow subsides and lava is dripping from the channel's roof.
|  1 Nov, 15h, f=135mm. Sometimes stalactites of molten lava take on most remarkable shapes.
|  1 Nov, 15h, f=135mm. After a few minutes the stalactites near the flow solidify.
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 1 Nov, 14h, f=135mm. Cracks in the tunnel's roof.
|  1 Nov, 16h, f=16mm. Lava needles.
|  7 Nov, 15h, f=16, 135mm. A smaller skylight.
|  7 Nov, 15h, f=50mm. Lava sculptures.
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 1 Nov, 15h, f=16mm. Tom Pfeiffer at work with other photographers.
|  1 Nov, 16h, f=16mm. Tom is getting as close as possible, the heat being the limit.
|  1 Nov, 16h, f=16mm. A film crew uses an unusual wide angle lens.
|  7 Nov, 15h, f=16mm. Thorsten Boeckel filming a new skylight.
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| Copyright: M. Fulle. | |||