An eruption at the Cumbre Vieja volcanic ridge, comprising the southern half of the Spanish island of La Palma in the Canary Islands, took place between 19 September and 13 December 2021.
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As the lava boils away the seawater, more of its surface is exposed to the water, which transfers heat more quickly, the U.S Geological Survey (USGS) Volcano Watch says. Steam is then produced at a more rapid rate. The clouds created can be lethal as they often contain small glass fragments.
The volcano rumbled for 85 days between September and December 2021. The first death from a months-long volcanic eruption on Spain's La Palma island in 2021 has been confirmed after a court ruled Monday that a man died from inhaling toxic gases from the volcano.
The Canary Islands are located in an active seismic zone and have several volcanoes. Earthquakes and volcanic eruptions occur. In 2021, the eruption of the Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma caused widespread damage. During a volcanic eruption, ash can disrupt air travel.
When a tsunami comes ashore, areas less than 25 feet above sea level and within a mile of the sea will be in the greatest danger. However, tsunamis can surge up to 10 miles inland. “It's really just kind of relentless, the water just keeps on coming and coming and coming for a long time,” Garrison-Laney says.
The Canary Islands were created by a series of volcanic eruptions millions of years ago. The oldest of these is Fuerteventura, which is thought to be over 20 million years old, followed by Lanzarote, Gran Canaria, Tenerife, La Gomera, La Palma and El Hierro, respectively.
In the western islands, water consumption is mainly supplied by groundwater in some cases; such as in Tenerife and La Palma, the percentages exceed 80% of total supply. Groundwater is complemented to a lesser extent by supply from desalination plants, especially on the island of Tenerife.
Near the island, predators such as sharks are very rare visitors, and the same goes for stinging jellyfish. In general, the water in Tenerife is safe for swimming, but it's still important to take precautions. Don't forget sunscreen even on cloudy days.