If you're in Hawaii and want to experience more than the usual sightseeing the place can offer, you can head on over to the town of Kalapana to witness the actual lava flow oozing from the massive Kīlauea volcano.
Officials of the Hawaii County have decided to open a 3-mile stretch of the road leading to the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to serve as a viewing area for tourists to see the lava flow coming out of the nearby Puʻu ʻŌʻō volcanic cone.
According to the Hawaii County Civil Defense, people are allowed to enter the emergency road from 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. every day. However, they would have to leave their vehicles in the designated parking area and make the hike on the gravel-covered path in order to get to the lava flow viewing area.
Security guards have been stationed at the end of Highway 130 to help make sure that all sightseers are safe during their visit.
Local officials had to create a path through previous lava flows when new flows threatened to engulf the town of Pahoa back in 2014 and in 2015. The new emergency access road was built at a cost of $10 million, and is now connecting the Chain of Craters road located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with Highway 130.
A Spectacle Of Molten Earth
Jeff Sutton, a scientist from the U.S. Geological Survey's (USGS) Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, explained that the lava from the volcano had advanced for about 1,500 feet on June 29, and has now made its way to the bottom of the cliff. He said that lava flow had been running down the side of the mountain at a rate of 300 feet every day until it was finally able to reach the cliff.
Before that, the lava flow had only advanced at a slower pace. It picked up speed on June 28, and changed its composition into a rocky and faster-moving form as it continued to flow over the cliff's steep terrain.
Sutton added that they expect the lava flow to come within 2 miles from the ocean and the emergency road by the time it reaches the bottom of the cliff.
National park's spokeswoman Jessica Ferracane said sightseers can witness the glow from the lava flow from various lookouts designated along the park's Chain of Craters road.
Park visitors are allowed to hike to where the lava flow is located. Ferracane, however, warned that they have to make the 11-mile round-trip walk over hardened lava, which could be quite the challenge for those who want to see the spectacle of molten earth.
Sutton also pointed out that visitors should also be cautious about getting too close to the explosions of methane gas typically produced by lava flow.
Photo: Sheila Sund | Flickr
