Good day for shooting the volcano - with fresh snow!
The name Pucón means, in Mapudungun, "Entrance to
the Andes".
Wikipedia - The upper part of Villarrica is
permanently covered by snow. The largest glacier here is the
Pichillancahue-Turbio Glacier.
Ash from the eruptions can increase
the ablation of snow and ice by absorption of solar
radiation. Some ash coverings are thicker than
5 cms and insulate the glacier, decreasing ablation instead
of enhancing it.
During its early years, the city of Valdivia was an
important gold and silver mining center.
However, mining activity declined over time, and now mainly tourism,
grain and dairy farming, and forestry are the main economic activities of the town.
Photos by Jaro Franta
