November 24

In the pre-dawn hours, a massive section of the northern face of Mont Granier collapsed, releasing millions of cubic meters of rock. Five villages at the mountain's base were engulfed by the debris, resulting in a catastrophic loss of life and property. Contemporary witnesses described the thunderous roar and the sky darkening under a cloud of dust. This event is recognized as one of Europe’s largest historical rock slope failures. Modern geologists study the tragedy to understand mountain stability and early warning indicators. The transformed landscape still bears the scars of the collapse, drawing hikers and researchers alike. Those ruins stand as a somber testament to the power of natural disasters in shaping human history.

On this voyage, Abel Tasman sailed east from the New Zealand coastline until he sighted the jagged shores of Van Diemen's Land. He charted the island's outline but did not attempt to land, recording only brief observations of its wooded cliffs. Tasman's meticulous maps expanded European understanding of the southern Pacific region. His logs noted unfamiliar wildlife and plant life along the coast. Though the island would later be renamed Tasmania, his discovery remained its official European 'birth.' Subsequent explorers used Tasman's charts to navigate the treacherous waters of Bass Strait. This moment marked a significant chapter in the era of global maritime exploration.