Cuevas Volcanicas

This weekend we traveled the road up the slope of Volcan Villarica above our house in Pucon to visit the site of the Cuevas Volcanicas.  From the refuge at the end of the road we could look out over the forested slope to see Lake Villarica below.

The "volcanic caves" are in fact a lava tube created on the slope of the volcano during an eruption several millenia ago. About 340 meters of the cave is open to the public year round and is well lit.  Our Guide, Fernando, did a good job explaining vulcanology and the seismic history of the Andes, speaking Spanish slowly for our benefit.

We wore helmets to protect ourselves from the low ceilings in the lava tube.

Henry checks out the petrified chocolate walls.