Fogo Volcano: Fire-hole Surrounded by Water

 Cape Verde is an island-country, located in mid Atlantic Ocean. This is a small country with big density of people. This country has a few volcanoes. Fogo is the youngest and most active volcano among them. This island is located in the chain of volcanic islands. As a result, Fogo has the probability of frequent eruption. This volcano erupted in 1951 and 1995. Last eruption damaged this small island in large scale.

On 2nd April of 1995, the eruption began. At first, some small earthquakes was about to take place before 7 days. On the second day of April, those earthquakes increased in size. Their frequency also increased. At about 8 pm, a heavy earthquake struck the island. In midnight the volcano blasted. There were huge activities like explosive blast. A high fountain of fire was appeared and a lava flow cut off the road-connection between Caldera and Portela. There were near about fourteen thousand people, living in that village. They fled by the night to the nearer village for safety. No one was killed by this time but some people had to take medical treatment. Fumes and particles of ash came from eruption caused breathing problems. 

On 3rd April, a thick and dark cloud of ash covered the whole island. The height of the cloud was 2.5 to 5 kilometers. The eruption produced lava bombs that went up to 500 meters from the vent. On 4th April, the lava fountain became 400 meters high and the ash-cloud reached about 2 kilometers. Lava started coming out from another vent. On April 5, the lava reached the western wall of caldera village and destroyed five houses. By this attack the main reservoir of the village was also damaged. The local authority took over 3000 people to another place.

After first three days the lava-flow became moderate and steady. The lava fountain built a 140 meters high cone. Lava flowed towards west side to Caldera. Then it turned to the north. On 13rd of April, another flow started coming out and entirely spread all places covered with the earlier flow. It destroyed another house. By 17th day of April, the flow advanced more four thousand meters in the village of Portela. It was almost to destroy the nearer house but stopped again.

 This lava flow took a lot of time to be cold as usual. No people were killed by this eruption. The quantity of loss was huge for the small and poor country. Though Cape Verde is located in The Atlantic Ocean, the probability of eruption is not finished. It may erupt anytime.  

 

LAVA The Furious Destroyer

Lava means both the molted rock that expelled by a volcano when an eruption occurs and the solid-cold state of that molting rock. The process of melting rocks is formed in the inside of the Earth and some other planets. When the eruption occurs first time lava is liquid and very hot with temperature of 700 to 1200 degree Celsius. Lava can flow long way before getting cold and solid. This excessive hot material destroys both natural and man-made things. Lava has a big history of  destroying localities. Here is some of them.

Towns Destroyed by Lava Flow :

1. Kalapana, Hawaii : Kalapana is a region of Puna District, Hawaii, USA. In 1990 Kilauea volcano erupted and it's lava destroyed almost whole town and the nearby regions. This destruction also made a new coastline. This town is abandoned. But, some people still live there. In 2010 that volcano erupted again. This time lava covered partly the previous covered flow-field. This town is now a tourist spot but only four-wheel-drive vehicles are allowed to enter there.

2. Koae and kapoho, Hawaii, USA : These two towns are destroyed by the Kilauea volcano. On 12th January, 1960 more than thousand small earthquake shook the total locality. After 24 hours lava came out from the volcano. The main flow went to the sea but that small flow did fanatic job. It destroyed almost 100 homes, farms and other business. From then no lava activity has been seen till this time. The towns are not suitable for living, they are tourist spot now.

Keawaiki of Hawaii is a town which is abandoned 1859 for lava hazard.

3. San Sebastiano al Vesuvio : This is a town of Italy near Naples. In 1044 Mount Vesuvius erupted and it's lava destroyed the town. This town is rebuilt and now people lives there. It is also a tourist spot.

Towns Damaged by Lava flow :

1. Catania, Italy : This city has a live volcano called Mount Etna. After some years this volcano erupts frequently. But, the eruption of 1669 was the biggest and most destructive. At first an earthquake took place, then the volcano started throwing lava. All houses of the city was destroyed by the earthquake. The fields in-front of the city were covered with fiery lava and looking like a lava-lake. The lava flowed faster in first days then it become slow. The city had a sixty feet high wall but it could not stop lava flow. A large part of Catania is destroyed. It took eight years to be cold. After that people rebuilt the city and still now living there with fear of lava-hazard.   

2. Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo : Goma is a eastern city of Congo. This city has a volcano named Nyiragongo. In January of 2002 this volcano erupted and threw huge lava. Because of that lava, forty percent of the city including above forty five thousand houses are destroyed. A runway of the local airport was also flown by lava.

3. Heimaey : Heimaye is a city of Iceland which was destroyed in 1973 by the eruption of volcano Eldfell. That time the city was abandoned but after the city is rebuilt and people live there.

4.Paricutin and  Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro : These twos are small villages located in Mohican, Mexico. These villages are furiously destroyed by eruption of Paricutin volcano from 1943 to 1952.

Without these places there are a lot of volcano that throw lava frequently. The subject of happiness is that, most of these volcanoes are out of localities. Their lava cause harm to the nature and wild animals but human are not disturbed.

It is must to remember that a place destroyed by lava is not suitable for visiting. If necessary, must put on safe and suitable dresses like gloves, coat, hood, mask and heavy boots. An experienced guide should take with in that tour.