The volcano Tagoro in the Canary islands.

The eruption of October 2011 to 1,800 meters south of the port of La Restinga on the island of El Hierro (Canary Islands) has produced in six months a submarine volcanic structure of 312 meters tall and the top at 89 meters below the sea surface. Its base is sub-circular of 738 meters on 950 meters, for a 18.4-degree slope.

El Hierro - discoloration of the ocean caused by the submarine eruption - photo Nasa Rapid eye 31.10.2011

Bathymetry of Tagoro volcano - a click to enlarge - doc.Geociencias Marinas # Tagoro

This volcano was appointed in May by the volcano Tagoro name.

Tagoro is a word of Berber origin meaning "circular stone enclosure" or "meeting place".

Charted in 2011 by the Ramon Margalef, the research vessel of the IEO, it was analyzed by various institutions: besides the Spanish Institute of Oceanography, the Universities of Las Palmas and La Laguna, and the Museum of Nature and human of Tenerife participated in the physico-chemical, biological and geological studies.

The volcano Tagoro aptly named, since qualifies on one hand this mineral structure circular, and on another a meeting place of hundreds of international scientists, journalists, political leaders, fishermen, all amazed by its destructive capacity, but also by the extraordinary recovery of the marine ecosystems in the sea of Las Calmas.

Ana R. Diaz-Marrero, chemist and researcher at the University Institute of Bioorganic Antonio Gonzalez of the University of La Laguna - Doc. Vulcano 1016 - Buscando farmacos El Tagoro

During the campaign Vulcano1016, mapping will be refined to visualize morphological variations of the volcano, particularly that of its secondary craters, which present hydrothermal vents.

A young chemist and researcher at the University Institute of Bioorganic Antonio Gonzalez of the University of La Laguna, Ana R. Diaz-Marrero, will join the expedition to analyze the microscopic ecosystem developed in volcanic rocks. Once isolated different species of bacteria and actinomycetes, they will be independently cultured. The chemical compounds produced by these organisms will be studied and evaluated for their biological activity, in this case as a potential anticancer agents.

The studies are just beginning, but it would be great that volcanoes are able to make their contribution to this fundamental research, and get to give a second chance to people with this disease.

Sources: - Vulcano 1016 - Buscando farmacos El Tagoro

- Vulcano II - link

- IEO - El submarino volcán the isla de El Hierro ha sido bautizado oficialmente como "volcán Tagoro"