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Underwater Eruption
Photograph by Desiree Martin, AFP/Getty Images
Whitecaps churn in the Atlantic off West Africa as an underwater volcano erupts off Spain's Canary Islands on Monday.
(See how the Canary Islands fared in an independent ranking of island destinations.)
Since last week, the volcano has been spewing gas and fragments of smoking lava, staining the ocean surface green and brown, as seen above.
Spanish authorities have closed a port on Hierro island (map), ordered ships away from the island's village of La Restinga, and banned aircraft from flying over the island's southern tip, according to the AFP news service.
Six hundred residents living at the port were evacuated Tuesday.
(See "Pictures: Giant Undersea Volcano Revealed.")
Published October 19, 2011
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Troubled Waters
Satellite image courtesy RapidEye
Erupting lava and gas caused a turquoise stain that spread across the surface of the Atlantic Ocean off Hierro island, as seen in an October 13 satellite image.
The underwater volcano has been erupting at a depth of about 3,900 feet (1,200 meters).
(Also see "Giant Undersea Volcanoes Found off Antarctica.")
Published October 19, 2011
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Green Seas
Photograph by Gelmert Finol, European Pressphoto Agency
The Atlantic turns lime green as lava and gas billow from an underwater volcano off the coast of Hierro island on Monday. (Photo: biking the Canary Islands.)
About 10,000 earthquakes have hit Hierro, the smallest of the Canary Islands, since July 19-a sign of the volcano's rising magma, according to the European Pressphoto news agency.
(Related pictures: "Undersea Volcano Erupts, May Form New Island.")
Published October 19, 2011
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Volcano Evacuees
Photograph by Desiree Martin, AFP/Getty Images
Residents of the small town of La Restinga (pictured) were evacuated to another part of Hierro island on October 11—a precaution in case of a volcanic eruption closer to the coast.
(Photo Gallery: Opera House, Spanish Volcano Among World Heritage List Adds.)
Published October 19, 2011
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Lava Waves
Photograph by Desiree Martin, AFP/Getty Images
Bits of lava from the underwater volcano ride the waves off the coast of La Restinga on October 17.
More: "Gooey" New Mud Volcano Erupts from the Arabian Sea >>
Published October 19, 2011
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