From the Centre of the Earth to the Sky

The Geothermal Trail of Le Biancane in Monterotondo Marittimo within the Technological and Archaeological Park of the Colline Metallifere

Description:

The attractions of Le Biancane Park include features of secondary volcanic action; the evidence of phenomena and activity that have been taking place in the Colline Metallifere (metal hills) for 4 million years.

Fumaroles: jets of water vapour and gases that travel through perforations that are as deep as 5000m and escape from the earth at temperatures that can reach 230°C

Le Biancane: mountains of white rock (the colour for which they are named). The water vapours that escape from the earth do so at high pressure and contain hydrogen sulphide. This causes a chemical reaction with the calcium and turns the rock into chalk.

Geothermal Energy Plant: water vapour sits below that earth as potential geothermal energy at depths that allow extraction of the vapour. They travel from the centre of the earth through natural gaps and form wells of trapped vapour beneath the earth's crust. These wells are tapped into and the vapour is transfered to the geothermal station where they pass through turbines and oscillators, thereby producing electric energy.

Rates: