The Kīlauea summit eruption continues inside Halemaʻumaʻu crater, in Hawai‘i Volcanoes Nationwide … [+]
Proper now could be a really particular time in Hawaii. Kilauea Volcano on the Huge Island of Hawaii began erupting once more on the finish of September, sending lava into its summit crater adjoining to the customer heart in Hawaii Volcanoes Nationwide Park.
Whereas that’s clearly information in itself – take a look at the images right here – the excellent news is 2 fold:
1) The lava has up to now remained fully contained inside its summit crater, that means it’s inflicting no hurt or property harm.
2) It’s erupting in a spot the place it’s potential to be seen from the rim of the crater, practically 2,000 toes above.
Lava just isn’t in a position to be seen with the bare eye in all eruptions (for instance, the December 2020 eruption), which is why we think about that final half actually excellent news.
The unhealthy information? There’s no telling how lengthy it’s going to final. The floor lava could possibly be seen for a pair months (or longer), or it might peter out inside a pair weeks.
So, when you have the possibility to go and see it, now could be the time. Right here’s the place you must go to view it:
Methods to See the Lava Throughout the Day
At present, as of this writing, there is just one place the place you may look down and see the bodily lava pouring out of the earth: The Keanakakaoi Overlook.
Reaching this level requires a couple of mile stroll alongside a paved highway. The view is from an extended distance (the crater is about 1,800 toes deep), however you may see the fountaining of the lava with the bare eye. Convey binoculars or a digicam with an extended zoom for a fair higher look.
Methods to See the Glow at Evening
At evening, there’s extra choices to expertise the lava. The Keanakakaoi Overlook continues to be the one place to see the lava itself, however there are a lot of viewpoints from which you’ll be able to see the lava’s “glow,” or reflection of its gentle because it burns at 2,000 levels.
The overlooks embody the Volcano Home, Kilauea Overlook, and Uekahuna, among others. All will be pushed to and don’t require vital strolling. Convey a flashlight that can assist you discover your manner alongside the strolling paths.
Watch the Lava From Residence
In the event you can’t make it to Hawaii, you may nonetheless get a glimpse of what’s happening from dwelling. Try the USGS’s daily blog with chronological photos and videos, or view the live stream webcams that showcase the summit crater.