Lava Balls of Pico del Teide eruption EarthCache
Lava Balls of Pico del Teide eruption
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Experience volcanic lava balls
of impressive sizes
and impressive numbers
Select just one of
them
Lava
balls evolve during the eruption
of a volcano when a small
fragment of solidified lava rolls along the surface of an active
lava flow and lava sticks or accretes to its surface. The
growth of a lava ball is similar to the way a giant snowball grows
when soft, sticky snow adheres to its surface as it rolls down. The
lava balls are spherical masses, who range in size from a few
centimeters to several meters in diameter. There is a clear
distinction between lava balls and volcanic bombs (see my
earthcache 'Volcanic bombs of Narices del Teide' - WP GC17GC9) as
the latter, though very similar in shape are ejected solidly or
nearly solidly from the volcano, whereas the former evolve in the
lava stream, while rolling downhill.
The many
lava balls with different shapes and very impressive sizes, which
you encounter at the cache area, resulted from one of the eruptions
of the 3717 meter high crater of the 'Pico del Teide'. In the
Canary Islands and especially in Tenerife they are well known as
'Huevos del Teide' (Eggs of the Teide).
To get to your starting point, drive up to the National Park
'Cañadas del Teide' and park near 28°15.569 N 016°36.188 W.
Have enough water and eventually some food with you. From there you
just follow the well signed path up to Pico del Teide, which will
bring you to the Cache area after a walk of around 4
kilometers and a total height difference of less than 300
meters (to around 2630 meters above sea level).
To be allowed to log the
cache execute the following tasks:
1) Select one of the many balls in the cache area near the
cache coordinates
2) Make a simple drawing of the ball, showing its structure.
Note the approximate height, width and your estimated weight
on the drawing
3) Make a picture of the drawing and upload it together with
the log
4) OPTIONAL: Make a picture of you with your GPS and your
selected ball in the background and upload it together with the
log
5) Note the coordinates of the selected ball in your
log
Note:
Any log, which does not conform to the above, will be deleted
without further notice
Additional Hints
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