The Always Active Kilauea Volcano Erupts

Hawaii is filled with great things and powerful volcanoes. One of them is the always active Kilauea Volcano. This particular volcano is a currently active shield volcano located in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the most active of all five volcanoes that are also on the island. It may even be the most active volcano on Earth. This volcano has blown its top after the crater collapsed. According to the United States Geological Survey department (USGS), a portion of the Halemaumau crater collapsed, sending rocks into the lava lake, causing explosive eruptions. The lava lake that comes from it has possibly reached record heights.

Kilauea Volcano Constantly Active with Lava Flows

The always active Kilauea volcano is the youngest and definitely has the most spice. It’s located on the Southern part of the Hawai’i Island, referred to as the Big Island, being the largest and biggest of the Hawai’i chain. The Kilauea Volcano is known to be active and on the verge of erupting almost constantly. There are vents on either side of it and rift zones that constantly tease the volcano. Since 1983, the Kilauea has actually been having an uninterrupted eruption and has been in activity since oral or written history.

Since 1820, it has been a very attractive volcano and Hawaiian Polynesian legends have been prominent, as well as written documentation about it. Legends say that Pele, the fire goddess lives at the large summit caldera that also has a central crater known as Halemaumau. The always active Kilauea caldera is comparatively small, only measuring about three by five kilometers. It was formed almost 1500 years ago, taking several stages to get where it is today.

In November of 2005, a large collapse occurred at the always active Kilauea Volcano. Then in February of 2008, flowing lava destroyed three houses sitting in the Royal Gardens subdivision. Lastly, on April 25 of this year, it overflowed. Spilling onto the floor of the Halemaumau, covering Pele’s crater, the lava continued to flow over one hundred and thirty meters, crossing over the crater floor. Rock falls, explosions and ash were all apart of Kilauea’s temper, also causing a lake of lava to rise that has been seen before in the 1800s, as well as the 1900s. More activity due to the Kilauea’s volcanic eruption may be seen at the Pauahi crater, as well as at Pu’u O’o.

The Latest Eruption Creates New Fissure

Since the volcano has calmed down, large cracks, and spattered lava can be seen. The always active Kilauea volcano received a new fissure named, Kamoamoa. This fissure is a split in the Kilauea Volcano that opens in a straight line. The fissure extended for over a mile and both Kamoamoa fissures, one on the east and one on the west, are still showing fumes but no lava. The Kilauea volcano still had some rage left inside. Not only did it create a new fissure, but also the lava from the eruption caused a wildfire, torching more than seventy-five acres just this past Sunday.