MicrocosmosLate Katia Krafft described Lengai as a «Toy Volcano». Here we offer you a visit to this Lilliput world, characterized by details at the
smallest scales. As usual the pictures on this page link to larger photos (about 40 to 140 KB). |
![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d107.jpg) During the filling phases of the lava lake, the frozen lake surface cracks, building up miniature erupting volcanoes. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d174.jpg) Cooling lava contracts, opening cracks in its contracting surface: gas sublimation condenses sodium salt on the cracks. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d048.jpg) A miniature channel contains a waterlike flow of deep black molten lava reflecting the blue colour of sky. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d078.jpg) These miniature channels change their colour during twilight, from brown through red to dull orange. |
![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d110.jpg) Meduse's Hairs born from the lava lake? Volcanologists call them «Intestinal Flows»: they are due to magma differentiation. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d101.jpg) Mushrooms born on the flank of a Hornito? Where gas can escape, gas sublimation condenses sodium salt in the most phantastic shapes. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d066.jpg) Oil springs in the Lybian Desert? It is hard to believe this liquid is a melt rejecting us with its strong heat. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d055.jpg) A rising Sky Dolphin crowns Hornito T40 and a miniature lava flow from lake T49E. |
![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d103.jpg) Life and Death on Lengai: a miniature volcano disappears under a running aa lava flow. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d106.jpg) Life is coming on Lengai: the green shadow given to sodium salt comes from algae living in this extreme environment. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d073.jpg) Steady waves in a lava channel draw all black sfumatures over fresh brown and hydrated white natrocarbonatite lava. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d057.jpg) An unusual setting Big Dipper looks at the red snake advancing on the brown lava fields of Lengai's crater. |
![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d175.jpg) Sublimating gases are sometimes rich in sulphur: its crystals are here close to a sodium salt chimney. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d105.jpg) Sodium salts are here coloured by brown and yellow algae. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d189.jpg) Meteoric water may as well solve the sodium salt, building up real salt stalactites. | ![Microcosmos Microcosmos](microcosmos/icons/d190.jpg) Like in carsic caves, stalactites build up stalagmites at their bottom, coloured by salt algae. |
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