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Halema'uma'u Volcano

A starry night above Halema'uma'u Crater in Kilauea Caldera as it glows with lava within a 300-foot diameter vent in the massive 900 metres (2,950 ft) crater floor. A moon out of frame on the upper right illuminates the sulfur dioxide plume streaming off to the west.

 

This vent opened last in April 2008 after years of a quiet crater floor. The vent opening has expanded slowly in the months that follow. Deep down inside the vent lies a lake of molten lava. Every once in awhile the vent sort of explodes, spewing ash, rock and flashing lava . To view a spectacular short video clip of such an event try recorded on cam by the U.S. Geological Survey this link

 

The crater lies within Hawai'i Volcanoes National Park, Island of Hawaii, photo taken at about 9:30 PM

 

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Uploaded on December 30, 2008