Wednesday 27-11 - Volcanoes and Lava
Our day is to be spent looking at lava and what destruction volcanoes can unleash.
We travel the Chain of Craters Road from the top of the Kilauea Caldera to the sea. That is a 4,000ft or 1220m drop in elevation. We have several stops along the way, as other craters exist down the mountain side, plus where the lava crossed the road in previous eruptions. We tried for a lookout but the road has not been reopened after last years lava flows. Then there is the new land formed as the lava flowed into the sea and the amazement that strips of forest survived where other places were just enveloped by the lava. At the sea cliffs is a lava arch and sea caves. It is a fascinating drive. We started with beautiful blue skies but end with a couple of showers of rain.
On return to Volcano, we pick up some lunch and then wander through the country side on our way to a black sand beach. The roads start as 2 lane, but the further south we go, the narrower the roads get. Many have had to be remade as a result of the lava flows. We take the Kapoho Kalapana Road Scenic Drive to the newest black sand beach, Pohoiki Black Sand Beach, courtesy of last years eruption. The original beach and beach park have gone due to the lava flow, but a new area has been created. For how long will depend on the currents, the tide and of course, the next eruption!
The rain starts to come down on the way to our next stop. It is the Lava Tree State Park, where the lava has surrounded trees then cooled quickly leaving the shape of the tree trunks in lava. We take the loop walk, and end up fairly wet as a result. We then head to Hilo for our accommodation for the next two nights.
We travel the Chain of Craters Road from the top of the Kilauea Caldera to the sea. That is a 4,000ft or 1220m drop in elevation. We have several stops along the way, as other craters exist down the mountain side, plus where the lava crossed the road in previous eruptions. We tried for a lookout but the road has not been reopened after last years lava flows. Then there is the new land formed as the lava flowed into the sea and the amazement that strips of forest survived where other places were just enveloped by the lava. At the sea cliffs is a lava arch and sea caves. It is a fascinating drive. We started with beautiful blue skies but end with a couple of showers of rain.
On return to Volcano, we pick up some lunch and then wander through the country side on our way to a black sand beach. The roads start as 2 lane, but the further south we go, the narrower the roads get. Many have had to be remade as a result of the lava flows. We take the Kapoho Kalapana Road Scenic Drive to the newest black sand beach, Pohoiki Black Sand Beach, courtesy of last years eruption. The original beach and beach park have gone due to the lava flow, but a new area has been created. For how long will depend on the currents, the tide and of course, the next eruption!
The rain starts to come down on the way to our next stop. It is the Lava Tree State Park, where the lava has surrounded trees then cooled quickly leaving the shape of the tree trunks in lava. We take the loop walk, and end up fairly wet as a result. We then head to Hilo for our accommodation for the next two nights.
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| Chain of Craters Road |
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| Chain of Craters Road |
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| Chain of Craters Road |
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| Lava Arch |
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| Sea Caves |
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| Sea Caves |
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| Pohoiki Black Sand Beach |
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| Lava Tree |
Great photos..
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