Obsidian is a natural glass of volcanic origin derived from the cooling of an almost completely gas-less magma, similar to that of human production. Much sought after in antiquity for the manufacture of sharp tools, mainly knives, it was one of the goods that animated trade in the Mediterranean a...

Seamounts, or underwater mountains, are defined in Oceanography as independent structures that rise at least 1,000 metres above the seabed. Their summit can often stand out from the seabed for several thousand metres, without ever reaching sea level. It is estimated that there are around 30,000 un...

A volcanic structure is nothing more than the volcano itself, formed by the overlapping of lava flows and pyroclasts. It is generally conical in shape, but it can change a lot depending on the chemical composition of the magma of the specific volcano....

Volcanic eruptions are divided into two main types: effusive, where lava flows and escapes, and explosive, where the lava is fragmented by the explosion of the bubbles contained inside it. Explosive eruptions are in turn divided into 5-6 main types according to their energy, the volume of pyroclast...

A volcano is the surface manifestation of magma, i.e. molten rock mixed with gas and vapour, at high temperatures. After its eruption on the surface, the molten material is called lava. When lava solidifies, it usually accumulates to form a volcanic structure. The most important parts of a volca...

Before starting our journey between the volcanoes, we should know the meaning of the UNESCO acronym. What is it? What does it involve? UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. Founded on 4 November 1945 in Paris, just after the end of the Second World War, it ...

The term “Strombolian” eruption means an activity formed by explosions of low and medium energy, with the launch of bombs and incandescent lapilli around the crater area. Periodically, this activity is also interspersed with the emission of lava flows along the slopes of the volcano. This is the...

In the autumn of 2002, after an intense earthquake off the coast of Filicudi and shortly before the beginning of a new effusive activity in Stromboli, a large system of fumaroles activated between the isles of Bottaro and Lisca Bianca, at a depth of around 7-10 metres. This system of fumarole...

Though Panarea is the smallest island of the archipelago, in reality, if the entire volcanic structure were considered, its size would be quite respectable, and comparable with the larger Lipari. The underwater part of Panarea has a maximum depth of 100 metres, and corresponds to the levelling by...

Heather is a plant known above all for its flower, which, though small, has an indescribable effect and charm. In Italy it is found in gardens as an ornamental plant, or in the undergrowth or near wetlands. This perennial plant belongs to the Ericaceae family, of which there are around 700 diff...