2010-05-27 07:01:48 - From Iceland to South America, active volcanoes are lighting up the skies.

Spewing ash and toxic gases and geysers of lava from its crater, the Arenal volcano, in Costa Rica, has erupted, forcing the evacuation of the surrounding national park.

Eight successive rivers of lava flowed down its steep slopes, Seismology Observatory and National Volcanologist, Elicer Duarte, said, as the 1633-metre-tall cone-shaped mountain, shuddered into extensive activity at 4am, on May 24th, 2010.

He believed nobody was in any danger from the eruptions, 80km north-east of San Jose, but authorities evacuated the Arenal National Park. When the eruption began no estimates were given of how many people were inside the park.

As it is one of the Americas most active volcanoes, the Arenal Volcano is a major Costa Rica tourist attraction.

Eighty-nine people were killed

in Arenal's last major eruption in July 1968. Smaller eruptions have occurred at least six times over the past 35 years.

After thrusting the world of flight to a standstill, when ash from the Eyjafjallajokull volcano reached 18,000 feet, the Icelandic volcano has finally stopped erupting. However, volcanologists are not completely satisfied that there will be no further eruptions.

Scientists have been keeping a close watch on Katla, due to the possibility of an eruption being triggered by the activity from Eyjafajallajokull. As Eyjafajallajokull finally quietened down, there have been 3 earthquakes at nearby Katla volcano. An eruption from Katla is expected to be several times more powerful than Eyjafajallajokull.

Since 9th March, 2008 the Halemaumau crater at the summit of the Kilaueu volcano, in Haiwaii, has been erupting. May 21st marked the 10,000 day of current eruption on the east rift zone of Kilauea volcano in Haiwaii, which began erupting on the 3rd January, 1983. Lava is currently flowing into the sea west of Kalapana.

On the tropical island of Vanuatu, in the South Pacific, Mt Yasur is believed to have been erupting for the past 500 years. There are no lava flows. Visitors to Mt Yasur are able to stand right on the very edge of the volcano and peer down into the crater and watch balls of hot lava molten burst nightly into the sky, in a spectacular display of fireworks. A truly awesome experience.

About News On Active Volcanoes
For more information: www.tropicpost.com/latest-on-active-volcanoes/

###
Dr Wendy Stenberg-Tendys and her husband are CEO's of YouMe Support Foundation (youmesupport.org) provide high school education grants for children who are without hope. You can help in this really great project by taking a few minutes to check out the Sponsor a Student program at Win a Resort (winaresort.com). It really will change your life and the life of some really needy kids.
Feel free to contact Wendy on admin@youmesupport.org