2. Travel

Mount Usu Volcano

Mt.Usu very near Toya Japan last erupted in March of 2000. These pictures are of the active vent located on the western flank of the mountain.
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Another view of the small pond as I make my way up towards the active vent. The waterfoul like the new arrangment.
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Another view of the small pond as I make my way up towards the active vent. The waterfoul like the new arrangment.

  • A view as I exited the taxis that brought me from the train station. This used to be a road heading down into the town of Toya but mother nature had other plans. This area now collects water because it's now blocked by a new hill 70M high (~250 ft).
  • Some of this might be a bit difficult to see but the picture on the top left is the way it looked before March 2000. Compare it with the previous image taken from the same spot, more or less.
  • Another view of the small pond as I make my way up towards the active vent. The waterfoul like the new arrangment.
  • This is the old road that went through towards Toya. It now has some major potholes not unlike the FDR Drive on the East side of Manhatten.
  • The terrain has mostly recovered but as you can see this tree was toast. I'm about 100M from the vent seen in the background
  • Looking North towards another local Stratovolcano, Yotie a mere 30km (19 Miles)away This is the old road from another angle. The ground is dotted with numerous fumerols.
  • The is the main active vent. A real boiler with lots of steam and sulfurous compounds
  • Untitled photo
  • This is looking towards the main vent from a higher vantage point. Note the people in view for a size reference. In the background is Mt. Uzu, the rather bald looking peak is seen.
  • This is a second crater that opened up but is less active and only steaming slightly. One of the unfortunate buildings that was a bit too close to the main eruption is just beyond the lip of the crater. The city of Toya in the background and the sea. Can you say Pompeii?
  • Another area looking West from the second crater shows another rift zone that was really steaming. Othe images will look back from the road in the background. I touched the ground here and it was really HOT. It's temperature, I don't know, however, I don't think you could sid down on it for very long.
  • Sulphur crystals form anywhere steam is leaving the ground.
  • One of the few signs in english describing the March of 2000 eruption.
  • Another of the few signs in english describing the March of 2000 eruption.
  • Looking back from the second crater to the main vent. The water that's collected is clear and has plants but I did not venture down into the hole to have a close look. The steam plume was too variable in the direction is was blowing.
  • Same view as the previous image but zoomed in a bit. This beastie is a real smoker!!
  • Same view with people as a size reference.
  • A visual reminder of the power released during the inital eruption. These are metal utility poles snapped off during the blast.
  • Another pole in the distance
  • Pole close up
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