No Apparent Danger
4 journalers for this copy...
This is not an ordinary book: it's a BookCrossing book! BookCrossing books are world travelers - they like to have adventures and make new friends...and every once in a while they even write home to say what they've been doing.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Subtitle: : The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado del Ruiz
Ex-library hardcover.
Volcanic eruptions are, like many natural phenomena, difficult to predict, and yet...this book looks at two instances where (at least with the benefit of hindsight) warning signs were missed and precautions were not taken, with disastrous results. Although it covers some of the same ground, this seems like a more balanced telling of the events on Galeras than Stanley Williams's Surviving Galeras.
I've been fascinated by volcanoes for about as long as I can remember (growing up next to one probably helped with that), but I'm grateful that Hawaii's shield volcanoes are generally much less explosive than the stratovolcanoes that make the pretty cones and then go boom.
Subtitle: : The True Story of Volcanic Disaster at Galeras and Nevado del Ruiz
Ex-library hardcover.
Volcanic eruptions are, like many natural phenomena, difficult to predict, and yet...this book looks at two instances where (at least with the benefit of hindsight) warning signs were missed and precautions were not taken, with disastrous results. Although it covers some of the same ground, this seems like a more balanced telling of the events on Galeras than Stanley Williams's Surviving Galeras.
I've been fascinated by volcanoes for about as long as I can remember (growing up next to one probably helped with that), but I'm grateful that Hawaii's shield volcanoes are generally much less explosive than the stratovolcanoes that make the pretty cones and then go boom.
Reserved for booklady331's nonfiction VBB (round 7).
Monday, July 30, 2018: mailed to Tennessee as part of booklady331's nonfiction VBB (claimed during round 8).
USPS tracking #9549 0104 3301 8211 3995 47
ETA 8/20
Apparently this book had some adventures on its way to Tennessee...
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
I'm so glad you've found this book!
Please take a moment to make a journal entry and let this book's previous readers know that it's safe with you.
How and where did you find the book? What did you think of it? What are you going to do with it next?
It's now your book, for you to do with as you please: keep it, pass it to a friend, or maybe even leave it where someone else can find it!
If you've ever wondered where your books go after they leave your hands, join BookCrossing and you may find out: you'll be able to follow your books as new readers make journal entries - sometimes from surprisingly far-flung locations.
BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!
USPS tracking #9549 0104 3301 8211 3995 47
ETA 8/20
Apparently this book had some adventures on its way to Tennessee...
I'm so glad you've found this book!
Please take a moment to make a journal entry and let this book's previous readers know that it's safe with you.
How and where did you find the book? What did you think of it? What are you going to do with it next?
It's now your book, for you to do with as you please: keep it, pass it to a friend, or maybe even leave it where someone else can find it!
If you've ever wondered where your books go after they leave your hands, join BookCrossing and you may find out: you'll be able to follow your books as new readers make journal entries - sometimes from surprisingly far-flung locations.
BookCrossing: making the whole world a library!
Thank you for sharing. In 2000, we got within few miles of the volcano on the big island and could see the steam rising as the lava reached the sea. We were able to see the caldera at the National Park and some of the lava tubes. The power is amazing and so wrapped up in the history of the islands. Thanks for sharing this with me. I look forward to reading this.
This was an amazing account of two volcanic eruptions in Colombia - separated by time, distance, severity - and yet linked by the scientists and their attempts to make sense of the information the volcanoes were giving.
Nevado del Ruiz, located in the northern Andean mountains of Columbia between Bogota and Medellin, is a 17,ooo foot giant with glaciers. When this volcano erupted in 1985, it was not the eruption that was so devastating, but the melting of the glaciers and the resultant mudflows. Nearly 23,000 people died in the ensuing disaster as the town of Armero was wiped out of existence. It was a horrible tragedy. In the aftermath, the government turned to scientists for answers - but predictions are difficult and not precise. There were some signals - tornillos - that did seem to precede the eruptions.
Galeras - a smaller (haha - only 14,000 foot) Andean mountain in southern Columbia near Pasto - had a long history of eruptions but none that were as devastating as Nevado. In 1993, a conference of scientists studying volcanos convened in Pasto and the high point of the week was a day of field trips to Galeras. This field trip would prove to be more than they bargained for as the volcano erupted. It then became a fight for survival.
The author presents a case that so much of the tragedy of Galeras - 9 deaths, including 6 of the scientists - was unnecessary and perhaps foreseeable. This is a tale of professional hubris and political wrangling. It is also a tale of unbelievable heroic and selfless acts. Truly a riveting read.
Nevado del Ruiz, located in the northern Andean mountains of Columbia between Bogota and Medellin, is a 17,ooo foot giant with glaciers. When this volcano erupted in 1985, it was not the eruption that was so devastating, but the melting of the glaciers and the resultant mudflows. Nearly 23,000 people died in the ensuing disaster as the town of Armero was wiped out of existence. It was a horrible tragedy. In the aftermath, the government turned to scientists for answers - but predictions are difficult and not precise. There were some signals - tornillos - that did seem to precede the eruptions.
Galeras - a smaller (haha - only 14,000 foot) Andean mountain in southern Columbia near Pasto - had a long history of eruptions but none that were as devastating as Nevado. In 1993, a conference of scientists studying volcanos convened in Pasto and the high point of the week was a day of field trips to Galeras. This field trip would prove to be more than they bargained for as the volcano erupted. It then became a fight for survival.
The author presents a case that so much of the tragedy of Galeras - 9 deaths, including 6 of the scientists - was unnecessary and perhaps foreseeable. This is a tale of professional hubris and political wrangling. It is also a tale of unbelievable heroic and selfless acts. Truly a riveting read.
Sending in the NF VBB - enjoy!
The book arrived today. Thank you so much for sharing with me. I appreciate it.
Not much I can add to what was already said about this book. I did find that I enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. No I was left wondering what really is the truth between the scientists and what happened at the second volcano. I found it interesting that even the scientists do not agree on what is happening with the volcanoes.
Reserving to send to another bookcrosser.
Reserving to send to another bookcrosser.
Enjoy! KTM RABCK to Hobbit. This book is set in Colombia and is good for the 666 challenge
It arrived safely although the envelope was quite torn. Thanks for sharing it! This fills my South American books for that challenge!
This was an interesting account and the author seems to have done her best to research and reconstruct what happened in a confusing and contentious incident. Like previous readers, I've spent time near volcanoes but not always carefully considered or appreciated the developing science of volcanology. In my case, I lived in Indonesia for several years where I visited several volcanoes. I experienced ash fall from eruptions a couple of times. And I lived in Ecuador for a year and could see 3 volcanoes right from my apartment building.
My only complaint about the book is that the writing is a bit dry or pedestrian. It doesn't add much in the way of interesting descriptions or language.
This is my final book for South America and to complete all books for the 666 Around the World Challenge for 2022. Hurrah for that.
My only complaint about the book is that the writing is a bit dry or pedestrian. It doesn't add much in the way of interesting descriptions or language.
This is my final book for South America and to complete all books for the 666 Around the World Challenge for 2022. Hurrah for that.