Encore - Alcantara River Gorge, Sicily

April 14, 2018

Alcantara27-28ott2012 099 (2)

Today and every Saturday Earth Science Picture of the Day invites you to rediscover favorites from the past. Saturday posts feature an EPOD that was chosen by viewers like you in our monthly Viewers' Choice polls. Join us as we look back at these intriguing and captivating images.

Photographer: Giuseppe Pappa
Summary Author: Giuseppe Pappa

November 2012 Viewer's Choice The photo above shows the Alcantara River Gorge, located between Messina and Catania in Sicily. This scenic gorge was created by an eruption of Mt. Moio, a minor scoria cone of Etna, probably around 4,500 years ago. While the lava was still hot a huge crack opened creating the original gorge. Later water flowed in and began eroding the rock. Over time, the Alcantara cut a channel through the easily erodible, angled basalt columns. Photo taken on October 28, 2012.

Photo Details: Camera: Canon EOS 1100D; Lens: EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 III; Focal Length: 36.0mm; Aperture: f/5.6; Exposure Time: 0.020 s (1/50); ISO equiv: 160.

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