Photos Show La Palma Eruption as It Enters a New State

Lava Is Forming a New Coastline

The lava flow produced by the Cumbre Vieja volcano falls into the Atlantic Ocean, as seen from Tijarafe, in the Canary Island of La Palma on October 10, 2021. Photo: Jorge Guerrero/AFP (Getty Images)

The lava is also reshaping La Palma’s coastline as it meets the water and cools off. Experts estimate that the lava has already created 84 acres of new land. And there may still be more to come as the eruption shows no signs of stopping.

“We cannot say that we expect the eruption that began 21 days ago to end anytime soon,’’ said Julio Perez, the regional minister for security on the Canary Islands, told reporters over the weekend.

Previous Restart

How the Combadge Became the Ultimate Wearable of the ‘Star Trek’ Universe

Communication has come a long way in 60 years of 'Star Trek'—and the combadge represents one of its biggest technological evolutions.

Gadgets James Whitbrook Apr 29

Rer Tunnel Piton De La Fournaise La Reunion Island

Volcanoes Send Tiny Warning Signals Before Eruptions. These Scientists Are Decoding Them

The team behind "Jerk," a novel tool that predicted eruptions with 92% accuracy for a French volcano, discusses its work and implications.

Earth Science Gayoung Lee Apr 21

Geologists Uncover a Hidden Path That the Colorado River Hasn’t Taken in 5.6 Million Years

Researchers have tracked the Miocene Epoch’s version of the Colorado River to a now dry lakebed east-southeast of the Grand Canyon.

Earth Science Matthew Phelan Apr 17

World’s Biggest Acidic Geyser Springs Back to Life After Years of Dormancy

The geyser is likely to fall back into dormancy soon, but there's a slim chance the spectacular eruptions will continue into summer.

Earth Science Gayoung Lee Mar 4

Enormous Pair of Deep-Earth Hot ‘Blobs’ Shape Earth’s Magnetic Field, Scientists Say

Without the blobs, Earth would be “magnetically dead,” the researchers said.

Earth Science Gayoung Lee Feb 4

This Ancient River Seemed to Flow Uphill. Now We Know Why

The Green River may have had some help from a dripping crust.

Earth Science Margherita Bassi Feb 2