Lava Burns Road in Hawaii

A slow moving lava flow covers the last remaining stretch of road that had been spared in previous years. The thick, black smoke is caused by the burning of the tar binder in the asphalt aggregate.

Recorded August 20, 2002.

The road was located next to the Highcastle viewpoint, which is about 1.5 miles from the present end of Chain of Craters Road. The lava originated seven miles away and 2500 feet higher in Pu'u O'o, which is the active vent on the flank of Kilauea Volcano.


More photos and videos:
http://volcanochaser.smugmug.com/

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• lava
• lavatube
• Kilauea
• Hawaii
• Pu'uO'o
• eruption
• volcano

[Cloudy011]

hey volcanochaser, back in the 96 I met a volcano chaser while I was hang gliding in Ohio USA.He 5'9 dark hair about 47 now? I lost touch with him about 10 years ago Traveled the world for volcanos. When I seen those ppl and got a feeling he was there for some reason,, its a long shot but it can happen*.

[volcanochaser]

@Cloudy011 Sorry, it's not me. Not as tall, not as young, and never been to Ohio. I know of two others who use that screen name in other websites. One was a female with a yahoo address, the other a male about how you described that I saw on a Honolulu tourist website. There are probably others. I chose this screen name on the spur of the moment when I signed up because my first choice was taken.

[vulpalasar]

Nice video.

I was on Hawaii in September and saw the county viewing location set up at Kalapana, near what the USGS is labeling the Waikupanaha ocean entry. Where is this in relation to that?

[volcanochaser]

This video from 2002 was recorded on the Chain of Craters Road in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. The location was about five miles to the west of the part of Highway 130 which is shown burning on the video response recorded on October 24, 2009 near the Waikupanaha entry. It is the same road with different names: one is a state road, the other federal. About six miles of road has now been covered in lava.

[03cammd79]

why r there people walking on it? if its a moving lava flow, one wrong step and you'll loose a foot... or a leg... depends how far down you sink...

[volcanochaser]

The hikers shown are experienced lava hikers. Inexperienced hikers would not be able to overcome the extreme blast furnace heat that is still present over the cooling lava. Typically, a hiker would be able to see how wide the flow is to get to the other cool side before deciding to venture out onto the hot surface.

[noneskull]

Mmmmmmmm, breathe deep. That witches brew of aerated petroleum byproducts, sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, methane, and God knows what is enough to curl your nose hairs at the very least. Gack.

[ZachKilgore]

holy crap that's so cool.

[Cloudy011]

Thank you for replying. You got a great name. Surprised it wasn't taken. I giggle about you thinking it was your name, This was way before computers and you made me think, he would be in his late 50's. Gee time flys and lava rolls. What a great interest volcanos. i believe there is over 100 active right now. I live in the pacific north west- many volcano's in my state I seen one Mt St.Helen may 18th,wow Have fun be safe!

[vexviper]

Shovel it back :D

[eastwestcoastkid]

@volcanochaser not able to overcome the extreme blast furnace heat? That would seem to be an issue for both experienced and inexperienced 'lava hikers'.. it still seems that it is inadvisable to walk on them..but to each his own, I never would..I would take photos of it though ;)

[equarg]

I just thought of a great "naturally" pave roads for the new century! Use lava!

It's all natural.

[YoshiBang]

@lisanmikey >:O I was born in hawaii!!

[clarkloveselevators]

@Dillon1108 Yeah...Its like,"Ah, I love road trips in Hawaii." (Road gets bumpy) "What is going on! Oh, its lava...there go the tires. And my car..."

[goober239]

That's why you need a 4x4.

[lisanmikey]

SOOOOO COOL........ I MEAN  HOT!!!!!