Living in Chile – Volcán Calbuco Eruption
I had a recipe to post today but it seemed a little insignificant in light of the fact that I was watching a volcanic eruption yesterday and half the night last night. My everyday life may not always be as exciting as food but I think molten lava and volcanic ash is pretty sweet.
There were actually two eruptions one started around 6 pm and the second around 1 am. The first one pretty much blew my mind. I mean, I really couldn’t believe it was actually happening. I was all like washing dishes and stuff and look up to see this! How many people get to see this kind of thing in a lifetime? These pictures were all from our house that is about 20 miles away from Calbuco.
It hasn’t erupted since 1972 and hasn’t had a major one since 1961. There was some lightning in the first eruption but not enough to capture in a photo. Although my brother-in-law got a video.
The best part was when the sunset turned the cloud of ash pink and purple!
I’d have to say that the second and more powerful eruption in the night was definitely better. The lightning was incredible and we could hear the lava and feel the rumble from across Lake Llanquihue. I just found out that Calbuco is one of the 3 most dangerous of Chiles over 90 active volcanos and over 500 potentially active ones.
Sorry that the night pictures are fuzzy. In my defense I was only half awake when I took them. Here’s a video that is much much clearer. Doesn’t that last one look kind of like a cross?
We’re literally waiting for the dust to settle now. A family friend who lives a few hours north, which is where the wind has been blowing the ash, sent us a picture of his car covered in ash this morning. I’m not sure how much ash we’ll have settle around here but so far it’s not much.
16 Comments
Keith Bresee
Wicked cool, Tori!!
Glad you guys are safe! 🙂
Tori
Thanks, Keith.
karla
That would be amazing to see. Lucky you! Would hate to deal with the ash fallout sure to come. Stay safe. And thanks for the pics.
Tori
Thank you, Karla!
CakePants
Wow, those are some crazy beautiful (and dramatic) photos! Was it really loud when it erupted?
Tori
Thanks and surprisingly no. We didn’t even hear the first eruption until we stepped outside and listened really hard. The second one was louder with all of this low rumbling plus thunder from all of the lightening.
heather
Wow great shots! That is really an amazing experience that not many people get to see. Thanks for sharing and glad you are ok I heard they were evacuating people.
Tori
Yes, they evacuated a 20 km radius but thankfully we are outside of that zone. Thanks, Heather!
Danielle @So Munch Love
What an awesome experience. I can only imagine what that must be like. I had no idea there was lightening with volcanic eruptions. Amazing!
Lexi @ Sempre Dolce
WOW! I first saw pictures/video of the eruption online and couldn’t help but think of Mordor from Lord of the Rings… 😉 How cool it must have been to watch! (from a safe distance, of course) #jealous
Tori
Yep, it was pretty cool!
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