puyehue-cordon caulle volcano erupting on july 31, 2011

puyehue-cordon caulle volcano erupting on july 31, 2011Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano in Chile Erupting on July 31st, 2011.  all photos:  miles clark

From the top of Catedral ski resort in Bariloche, Argentina yesterday you could see an endless array of snow covered jagged peaks, a spectacular low cloud deck, and an enormous plume of smoke and ash spewing from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano in Chile.

Patagonia is such a wild place that it’s often extremely difficult to wrap your mind around.  It’s just raw here.

Puyehue-Cordon Caulle Volcano Eruption Aftermath:

– Nilahue River (near volcano) temperature has risen to 113°F.

– Estimated 4.5 million fish killed in the Nilahue and surrounding rivers.  Fish farming devistated in the area.

– 2 million head of sheep at risk in Argentina as ash covers pasturelands.

– Bariloche, Argentina airport has been closed since the initial eruption on June 4th, 2011.

– Tourism in Bariloche down as much as an estimated 50% this summer.

– 4,200 people evacuated in Chile on June 4th.  They were allowed to retune home on June 19th.  Still looks crappy to be in those towns, tho.

– On June 18th, 2011 the volcano’s ash cloud completed it’s first circumnavigation of the Earth

– “According to Argentine physicists, the eruption sent one hundred million tons of ash, sand and pumice stone into the air, equivalent to 24 million truckloads of sand, and released power equivalent to 70 atomic bombs.” – Buenos Aires Herald

puyehue volcano catedral ski resort bariloche

We did get some sand/ash falling on our roof last night but nothing too bad. We’re hoping that the wind doesn’t shift and blow that smoke plume right into town this week.

map of puyehue volcano chileMap of Puyehue Volcano with Bariloche in lower right corner.  Puyehue Volcano is right next to town of Puyehue in center.

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