Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999

The pictures on this page link to larger photos (usually 20 to 70 K). All times are local and approximate (+/- 30 mins). In order to give an idea of the perspective, focal lengths of the camera lenses are given (e.g. f=28mm: wide angle lens).

Marco Fulle, Roberto Carniel and Jürg Alean visited Etna, at various times, during the phase of extremely strong activity. We are proud to present here some of the unique and spectacular photos captured by Marco during many days of patient, and sometimes dangerous, work on Mt. Etna.

Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
19 Oct 1999 20h local. f=50mm from Monte Palestra mountain hut. Lava flows on the W slope of Etna. Magma bubbles from BN explode into the sky, with Andromeda, Aries and rising Jupiter from left to right.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
19 Oct 1999 21h local. f=28mm from Galvarina hut (1870 m) in the right foreground (a person with a flashlight is searching for wood near the hut). Saturn is rising on the right and Perseus on the left.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
20 Oct 1999 18h local. f=28mm from jeep road at Montagnola. A thunderstorm is rapidly approaching: wind-blown clouds in the sky resemble an enormous bird.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
20 Oct 1999 18h local. f=28mm from jeep road at Montagnola. Thin wind-blown clouds in the sky mask the sunset.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=50mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. Continuous fire fountains 100 m high spill from an active fissure 200 m long in the W side of BN.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=50mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. The fire fountains reach an height of 200 m. The white steam at their base is coming from a lava overflow on the NW BN rim.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=135mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. Molten lava emerges as straight jets for 50 m, before coagulating into meter-sized lava clots.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=135mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. Continuous fire fountains 100 m high spill from a fissure in the W side of BN. The liquid and gas phases separate in the air!
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=135mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. A turbulent, ash-rich eruptive column rises into the sky for kilometers above 200 m high fire fountains.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=300mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. The fire fountains are so wide and so continue that they fill the image with red. The steam comes from a lava flow on the NW BN rim.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=300mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. Liquid streams of molten lava fly on straight jets for 50 m, before they coagulate into meter sized lava clots.
Extremely strong activity 19.-22.10.1999
22 Oct 1999 12h local. f=300mm from W rim of Cratere Ellittico. Paroxysm 4. Continuous fire fountains 50 m high spill from a fissure in the W side of BN. The lava is so hot that it remains red during its fall.