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VO-RI-14

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steam ring shoots up from a crater
Same day, same place as previous picture. This white, brilliant steam ring kept its circular shape for nearly 15 minutes, reaching an altitude of several kilometers. It was carried by a strong wind in an eastern direction to the sea. When the weather conditions are right, the vent of the Bocca Nuova produces nicely-shaped rings every 10 minutes, mostly 20 to 50 m ( 60 to 150 feet) across. Some of these rings attain a diameter of 200 m (about 600 feet) maintaining their shape for 10 to 15 minutes before breaking up.

[© Thorsten BOECKEL - photo used with permission (more images of volcanoes and smoke rings can be found on Thorsten's personal site at www.tboeckel.de)]