The whole aim of this part of the trip was to see a real, live lava flow. Unfortunately you cannot do that from the ground. Even though we saw heaps of other lava related formations, we still wanted to see the real thing in action. So, up, up and away we went, this time flying directly over an active crater to see the lava spurting out. Definitely the highlight of the entire holiday and certainly a once in a lifetime experience (unless we win lotto and come back).
Pu'u O'o vent began erupting in 1986, and by 1992 had destroyed 200 homes and added 300 acres to the island. Hot volcanic gasses continue to pour from the cooling cinder cone, typical of the newly formed volcanic peaks that have built up along the Chain of Craters road. Volcanoes National Park covers 250 00 acres of volcanic landscape and lava continues to flow down to the sea.
Here we go again...
...this time Dylan and I were in the back.
Heading from Hilo town out to the Volcano National Park.
Flying into the lava zone, all the dark stuff is past lava flows.
Flying over the steam vents leading up to the crater.
Flying up to the active crater, where the lava flow has come out on the right side of the crater.
Yeah! exactly what we wanted to see.
And again, but from a different angle.
And one more time as we fly away.
The bright shiny silver stuff is hot, active lava flow.
This area is called the East Rift Zone of Kilauea, actual flowing lava heading down to the sea. Again, lava flow is not uniform and some areas are left untouched in its path.
Since 1983, over 2 billion cubic yards of lava have covered beaches, roads and the community of Kalapana, adding vast amounts of new land to the island of Hawaii. This picture is of the cliff faces over hanging the sea, entirely made of solidified lava.
Heading inland now to cover the rest of the island.
Flying over waterfalls in the Waimana Valley, because of the angles we couldn't get a really good picture, but it was beautiful.
And safely back on the land.
No comments:
Post a Comment