One thing that I was really excited about when we recently holidayed in Hawaii, was the opportunity to see a volcano. The Volcano is on the island of Hawaii or the Big Island as it's called there. On that tour excursion we were told that the volcano was a very low risk of erupting any time soon. In fact, the night time viewing of lava flows just didn't happen while we were there...how disappointing! But...
We were back home just a few weeks, when what should happen? Yes, that 'quiet' volcano erupted, destroying homes and spewing out poisonous sulphuous gases! I somehow suspect that the Volcano National Park Tour Excursion is not available at the moment on the Norwegian Line's Pride of America cruises. So we were very lucky to have seen this Volcano caldera.
It was a rainy day when we visited Mt Kilauea, but even the constant drizzle couldn't dampen my excitement at seeing this...smoking away! The caldera/crater was huge!
In the information centre I read about the danger from the fumes...the day we were there, the risk was low.
The view from the information centre...
Then we reboarded the bus to head off to an area that was the site of the lava flow in the 1979 eruption...
It was like solidified black mud...acres and acres of it!
Also at this stop, we walked up to a lookout to view another volcanic crater...no smoke this time, but it's sheer size made it very impressive. This lookout was a lot closer to this crater than the ones at the smoking Kilauea Volcano.
Another stop was an area where there were a number of steam vents...the steam puffed up every few minutes, and boy was it hot!
Our guide pointed out a fern that grew near these steam holes...the only plant that can withstand the heat of the steam...amazing!
Another stop was at the Thurston Lava Tubes. Lava once flowed through these underground and we were assured it would no longer do so. 🙄
Near the entrance to the lava tube...
It had rained heavily the night before our tour and this caused a lot of water in the tubes; dripping from the ceiling and making huge puddles on the floor of the tube.
There were lights in the tubes but with so many people ahead of me, I found they blocked the light...eek! I fumbled around and managed to find the torch app icon on my phone and turn the torch on.
With soggy footwear and wet coats we emerged at the other end...phew! Lol
What a great day. I may not have seen lava but maybe that is a good thing! Lol
We were back home just a few weeks, when what should happen? Yes, that 'quiet' volcano erupted, destroying homes and spewing out poisonous sulphuous gases! I somehow suspect that the Volcano National Park Tour Excursion is not available at the moment on the Norwegian Line's Pride of America cruises. So we were very lucky to have seen this Volcano caldera.
It was a rainy day when we visited Mt Kilauea, but even the constant drizzle couldn't dampen my excitement at seeing this...smoking away! The caldera/crater was huge!
In the information centre I read about the danger from the fumes...the day we were there, the risk was low.
The view from the information centre...
Then we reboarded the bus to head off to an area that was the site of the lava flow in the 1979 eruption...
It was like solidified black mud...acres and acres of it!
Also at this stop, we walked up to a lookout to view another volcanic crater...no smoke this time, but it's sheer size made it very impressive. This lookout was a lot closer to this crater than the ones at the smoking Kilauea Volcano.
Another stop was an area where there were a number of steam vents...the steam puffed up every few minutes, and boy was it hot!
Our guide pointed out a fern that grew near these steam holes...the only plant that can withstand the heat of the steam...amazing!
Another stop was at the Thurston Lava Tubes. Lava once flowed through these underground and we were assured it would no longer do so. 🙄
Near the entrance to the lava tube...
It had rained heavily the night before our tour and this caused a lot of water in the tubes; dripping from the ceiling and making huge puddles on the floor of the tube.
There were lights in the tubes but with so many people ahead of me, I found they blocked the light...eek! I fumbled around and managed to find the torch app icon on my phone and turn the torch on.
With soggy footwear and wet coats we emerged at the other end...phew! Lol
What a great day. I may not have seen lava but maybe that is a good thing! Lol
