Gumbo’s Pic of the Day, August 12, 2014: Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

 

Lava covering Chain of Craters Road, Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

 

 

The landscape on the Big Island of Hawaii is simply amazing!  You can watch it change before your very eyes at Volcanoes National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.  The park is home of Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes on earth.  The chance to witness the primal process of creation and destruction make this park one of the most popular visitor attractions in Hawaii.

 

Today’s highlighted photo is of a recent lava flow covering the Chain of Craters Road along the coastal part of the park.  The road is disrupted and now closed to all but hikers by the dark lava that has literally overtaken it.  To reach this part of the park you descent 3700 feet from the higher altitude portions of the Kilauea volcano, the drive providing dramatic scenes throughout its length!

 

Just off the Chain of Craters road, close to this lava flow are the ancient Puuloa petroglyphs, which you can reach via a short trail.  There are 23,000 images etched into the volcanic rock here, some of which you can see at the photos below.

 

Lava covering Chain of Craters Road, Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Lava covering Chain of Craters Road, Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Ancient Puuloa Petroglyphs, Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

Ancient Puuloa Petroglyphs, Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii

 

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10 years ago

Wow, that would be something to see.  Thank for sharing.

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