HI: Volcano

100 yrs ago, on August 25th, 1916, Woodrow Wilson established the National Park Service.  2016 is also the 100th anniversary specifically for the Volcano National Park.  We had free entry!  it is also our anniversary - 10 yrs!

We started with a volunteer ranger taking us on a short hike and explaining some cool things about local plants and the volcano. 

 the Thurston Lava Tube. the hike passes through a rich fern forest.

 

The steam vents:  When groundwater reaches rocks of sufficient temperature, steam forms.  This is particularly common in the summit area and along the rift zones where magma (underground lava) is near the surface.  

Jaggar museum overlook in the daytime.

 We drove the 40 mile round trip Chain of Craters Road.  We could have spent more time, even another day easily, exploring all the side roads, hikes, and petroglyphs that there are to see at this beautiful national park.

 

The overlooks provide excellent views of the coast 2,200 feet below.

 The road was blocked by lava flows, reopened, and then blocked again.  We reached the Holei Sea Arch at the end of the road.

 

The lava lake at Halema'uma'u is below the surface, but visitors can see a dramatic plum of gas and steam by day, and a red/orange glow from it at night from several vantage points in the park - here from the Jaggar Museum Overlook (the closest you can get).  Because the plume contains hazardous volcanic materials, gases, and even volcanic glass, the south portion of the Crater Rim Drive is closed.