Nearly all the snow is gone from Volcan Villarica, but it remains a popular target for tourist photos.
Sunset over Lago Villarica brings out many
people in the evenings, and of course the restaurants are packed.
Wikipedia - Villarica is one of a small number
worldwide known to have an active lava lake within its crater. The volcano usually generates strombolian
eruptions of incandescent pyroclasts and lava flows.
Rainfall, plus melted snow and glacier
ice, can cause massive lahars (mud and debris flows), such as during
the eruptions of 1964 and 1971.
Villarica is popular for climbing with
guided hikes to the crater from the town of Pucón, but these may be suspended
due to cloud or volcanic activity. Helicopter over-flights have been available
since 2007.
Cont'd next blog...
Photos by Jaro Franta
