A month ago, a lava tube on the Hawaiian island of Kilauea was exposed after a large chunk of hardened magma broke off and fell into the ocean. Since then, molten lava has been pouring into the sea like delicious tropical punch from some magical never-ending juice box.
The US Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has been keeping tabs on the lava leak, while Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has set up a distant but safe viewing area—indicated by the yellow arrow in the photo to the left—for the spectacle. It’s just as well, given that the cliffs around the lava flow are currently unstable and dangerous to approach. That, and the fact that red hot lava can reach temperatures above 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. Instagram with care, everyone.
[YouTube via Laughing Squid]
