Monday, April 28, 2008

Mt. Augustine Volcano

If you look closely at this picture, you can see the ash/steam plume rising from Augustine Volcano. This volcano is usually obscured by clouds or fog, so I was excited to be on the beach this morning and see this plume (and I actually had my camera along!). This volcano has erupted regularly, most recently in 1986. Currently it is not on the high-activity list. If you want to know more, check out this awesome website to discover lots of information or check out webcams on Alaska's volcanos, including Augustine: http://www.avo.alaska.edu/activity/Augustine.php

My aunt and uncle in Ninilchik remember waking up in the middle of the night during the 1986 eruption of Augustine (and others) and thinking it was the end of the world: the sky was an eerie red with flashes of lightning and they had no idea what was going on. It wasn't until hours later when the ash began to fall that they figured out what was going on. A small tsunami was created during those eruptions. I am glad I know what their experience was like in case it happens when we're here.

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