Hidden among the rugged ice expanses of Western Antarctica, the Mount Erebus it is not only a spectacular natural wonder but also the stage for geological mysteries and tragic human stories. This active volcano, the southernmost and one of the highest in the world, holds phenomena that defy the imagination: a perpetually bubbling lava lake and precious vapors mineralized with gold. At the same time, it is the scene of one of the most painful air disasters in modern history.
Discovered in 1841 by Sir James Clark Ross during an eruption, this volcano touches i 3,794 meters high, dominating the Antarctic horizon. Its persistent activity is demonstrated by a lake of incandescent lava, continuously active since 1972, which is accompanied by constant emissions of gas and steam.
A treasure hidden among volcanic emissions
In addition to its geological manifestations, Mount Erebus hides surprises of great value. Recent studies have revealed that the gases emitted by the volcano contain microscopic gold crystals, which can reach up to 80 grams per day. This extraordinary phenomenon disperses a treasure whose daily value is around 6000 dollars into the Antarctic air, spreading up to a thousand kilometers away.
Mount Erebus is also infamous for the 1979 plane crash, when an Air New Zealand plane, on a scenic flight, crashed into the volcano, killing 257 people. The accident, which occurred in conditions of poor visibility and a “whiteout” effect, which made the volcano indistinguishable from the frozen landscape, marked the end of the company’s Antarctic tourist flights. Photographs taken by passengers shortly before the crash, and miraculously preserved, have dispelled theories of adverse weather conditions and triggered a heated debate on the safety of tourist flights in such extreme regions.
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