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 it 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 is a close-up of recent (1980 (when the photograph was taken) *pahoehoe*lava cascading down a slope, showing its metallic-looking surface.