Volcano erupts in Chile

The eruption of the Puyehue volcano in the Andes mountains of southern Chile last weekend provided some spectacular images of the force of nature. Ash covers the landscape and thousands of people were evacuated from the surrounding rural communities. The volcano, which hasn't been active since 1960 when it erupted after an earthquake, sent its plume of ash 6 miles high across Argentina and toward the Atlantic Ocean.

A plume of ash, estimated six miles (10km) high and three mile wide is seen after a volcano erupted in the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain, about 575 miles (920 km) south of the capital, Santiago June 4. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)




A helicopter flies over smoke and ash rising from the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain near Osorno city in south-central Chile June 5. A volcano dormant for decades erupted in the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcanic chain in south-central Chile on Saturday, belching an ash cloud more than 6 miles (10 km) high that blew over the Andes and carpeted a popular ski resort in neighboring Argentina. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)

A member of the media walks along a road covered with ash from Chile's Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain near the Cardenal Samore border pass between Argentina and Chile, June 7. (Ivan Alvarado/Reuters)



A plane is seen covered in volcanic ash at San Carlos de Bariloche airport, southern Argentina June 7. The wind carried volcanic ash across the Andes to Argentina resulting in the closing of six airports, and the cancellation of flights in the capital city. (Alfredo Leiva/Associated Press)




A view is seen of the ash plume above the Puyehue-Cordon Caulle volcano chain near Entrelagos June 5. (Carlos Gutierrez/Reuters)



An aerial picture showing the cloud of ash billowing from Puyehue volcano near Osorno in southern Chile, 870 km south of Santiago, taken on June 5. (Claudio Santana/AFP/Getty Images)

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