Kilauea Lava flow, Hawaii

Kilauea volcano, 1250m (4090ft) is the youngest and most active of Hawaii's volcanoes. It can be studied and observed up close in relative safety in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, Puna district, approx. 48 km from Hilo. Since January 1983 eruptive activity has been continuous along Kilauea's East Rift Zone, making Kilauea the world's longest erupting volcano. The Hawaiian lavas are basaltic and have two distinct forms, although chemically they are the same: *aa* (viscous, rough) and *Pahoehoe* (smooth, ropy, billowy).This image shows visitors walking on the solidified *pahoehoe* lava flow of 1979, only one year after the lava flow.