At Lunch
WHAT IN THE WORLD! - Volcano expert abseils into active crater to capture these amazing images─── 13:29 Thu, 28 May 2015
Most people wouldn’t even dream of going near an active volcano - but meet the man who goes INTO them in the name of science.
Italian geologist Francesco Pandolfo had travelled to the Democratic Republic of Congo to study the volcanic activity on Mount Nyiragongo, when he decided to get a closer look
He decided to abseil much closer to the smouldering lava than most would dare to go and was able to capture these stunning pictures of what a raging volcano really looks like up close.
Francesco said his love for the mountains made the decision to take a closer look at the volcano an easy one.
He said: “For me it was an absolutely amazing experience and it wasn’t as hot as you might think.
“Believe it or not, the original sensation was that it was quite cold but it soon got a lot hotter!
“When I was on the rope heading down into the crater, the feeling was very strange but at the same time it was absolutely incredible.”
Francesco had been in Africa conducting research in order to better understand the volcano, which last erupted in 2002.
He said: “It really was one of the best things you can see, a volcano in full flow.
“I have always been in love with the mountains so I think this is my true calling.”
