Spectacular Hawaii Lava Flow & Shelf Collapse

Some great volcanic stuff happening on the Big Island of Hawaii lately.

First of all, a 44-acre lava field collapsed into the sea. You can see the "before" and "after" photos below.

Second, the collapse exposed a 60-foot cliff with a lava tube that spurted red, molton lava straight out into the ocean like severed artery. (see photo below)



As one awed observer put it, "You can see the red just falling down!"

It will take you a two-mile hike from the end of Chain of Craters Road to get to where you can see the display. But hurry. Park personnel say that the lava will build up and cover the exposed flow by the end of next week.

Photos by Kelly Wooten, National Park Service