Lava to Ash T is lava is diff erent in another way, too. It doesn’t cool into hard rock. Aſt er it cools, it falls apart easily. All it takes is a little moisture. Water changes the cooled lava.


It turns silvery gray. T en the lava becomes powdery. T is powdery ash covers the


volcano. It washes down and flows into a lake and makes the lake salty. T e lake is so salty, not much can


live in the water. T ere is one kind of algae that lives there, though. It turns the lake bright red. Flamingos come to the lake to eat the algae.


Up Close I look for a place where it’s safe to walk. I climb up a dome. A faint sputter of magma flows under my feet. It doesn’t seem too dangerous. Later, I find out I’m wrong. A dome


bursts. Lava gushes out. It quickly flows across the crater. I take this as a warning. T is volcano can easily turn dangerous. Next, I climb a chimney. Pieces of


rock break off in my hand. Magma rumbles below me. My heart pounds. I know it’s too dangerous here. I climb back down.


16 NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC EXPLORER


Always Changing I explore and take pictures for a week. Now it’s time to leave. I hate to go. I want to remember everything. Before I go, I listen to the rumble and roar of the volcano. I take a last look. Already, things are changing. T e


rock shaped like a wing has crumbled. It was there one minute, then gone! Fresh lava is forming new shapes. I know this volcano will look very


diff erent when I come back. It will keep changing while I am gone. I hope to come back soon. I want to take more pictures. I want to show everyone why it’s my favorite volcano.


Lava erupts near a member of Peter’s climbing team.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24