La Palma
Netflix’s new limited series,La Palma, centers on a vacationing family and several geological researchers who are forced to consider questions of survival when a natural disaster strikes the Canary Islands.
The series follows Jennifer and Fredrik and their children as they arrive in La Palma for their Christmas vacation, while, at the same time, geological researchers, Marie and Haukur, realize that data indicates that an eruption could have wide-reaching catastrophic results.
La Palma Is Not Based On A True Story
But The Island Setting Is A Real Place
Netflix’s seriesLa Palmais not based on a true story, butLa Palma is a real location and there have been eruptions there in the past.
La Palma is one of the Canary Islands which are located in the North Atlantic Ocean, and it is a popular vacation spot, so it makes sense that the show would be set there.La Palmatakes advantage of the island’s natural beauty and uses its real volcano as a center for disaster.
The most recent eruption of La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja occurred in 2021, but there are eruptions of that ridge dating back to 1470, proving that there is some historical basis for the events of the series.
Furthermore,La Palma’s inspiration fromthe real eruptions that have occurred on the island helps ground the series with a factual basis on the aftereffects of a natural disastersuch as a volcanic eruption.
The most recent eruption of La Palma’s Cumbre Vieja occurred in 2021, but there are eruptions of that ridge dating back to 1470, proving that there is some historical basis for the events of the series.
Plus, when it comes to natural disaster shows, some level of creative liberty is to be expected to add entertainment value to the show.
La Palma’s Disaster Is Inspired By Real Scientific Research About La Palma’s Volcanic Activity
The Series Is A Dramatization Of Research Findings
Beyond the inspiration taken from the real-life eruptions of Cumbre Vieja,Netflix’sLa Palmawas also inspired by scientific research surrounding the possibility of a megatsunami following a volcanic eruption.
A Norwegian family vacationing in La Palma faces chaos when a young researcher uncovers disturbing evidence of potential volcanic activity. As fears escalate, the possibility of a catastrophic eruption and tsunami looms, threatening the idyllic setting and testing the family’s resilience amidst a looming natural disaster.
Geologists have hypothesized that material rapidly falling into the ocean could lead to a tsunami that has repercussions as far as the Eastern seaboard of the United States (viaUniversity of California, Santa Cruz).
Much as depicted in the series, the eruption could lead to waves 50 meters tall crashing upon the coasts of numerous countries.
Cumbre Vieja Eruption
Eruption Date
Montana Quemada
1470
Tajuya
1585
Volcan Martin
1646
Volcan San Antonio
1677
El Charco
1712
Volcan San Juan
1949
Volcan Teneguia
1971
Tajogaite
2021
Though Netflix’s limited series is modeled on the worst-case scenarios that geologists have theorized,La Palmais undeniably entertaining.
Luckily, it seems unlikely that these predictions will actually come to pass since the volcano has only erupted eight times in the last six centuries.
However,La Palma’s depiction of characters fighting to stay safe in horrifying conditions, combined with stunning visuals of the volcano’s eruption, will have audiences hooked and wanting more.
Source:University of California, Santa Cruz
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A Norwegian family vacationing in La Palma faces chaos when a young researcher uncovers disturbing evidence of potential volcanic activity.
As fears escalate, the possibility of a catastrophic eruption and tsunami looms, threatening the idyllic setting and testing the family’s resilience amidst a looming natural disaster.
