While reading the news about Kilauea, I suddenly realized I was there last year! I can hardly believe it’s the same place now. As you’ll see below, it was just an opening in the ground with a bit of smoke and a tiny flame. Now the volcano is sending ash and smoke 30,000 feet (9144 m) in the air. You guys, that is higher than Mt. Everest. I feel bad for the people who have lost their homes and are breathing noxious fumes.
Here are some shots I took at Volcanoes National Park which includes the Kilauea Caldera….
When I read “You are standing inside one of the world’s most active volcanoes,” it didn’t really faze me. I feel differently now.
You can see how barren it is around the caldera. It must be so much worse now.
Right before we left, there was more smoke and you could actually see flame. We also cruised by the volcano at night on the ship, but it was too far away to photograph.
This is Lua Manu Crater. It’s approximately 330 ft. (100 meters) in diameter and 125 ft. (38 meters) deep and was formed about 200 years ago.
Right now the park is closed until further notice. Norwegian Cruise Line, which we used last year, is circumventing the Big Island and spending an extra day on Maui.
Great weekend, everyone….
{carole}
Pearls & Prose 
Wow amazing photos!
So kind of you. 🙂
WOW !
I know!
It looks fascinating. How lucky you didn’t go this year. Volcanoes are so scary.
Yes. Can you imagine living near one? I live in an area that has earthquakes, but volcanoes have to be worse.
Both are terrible. We actually live in an earthquake zone as well but we’re lucky in recent centuries.
In Switzerland? I had no idea, Caroline.
Yes, we are right on one of the epicentric lines. I’ve experienced a few heavy earthquakes. Building is solid, there was no destruction and it might not have been that high but it was so scary.
Wow. I was in a pretty serious one in LA years ago, but most of the damage was out in the desert. The water in the swimming pool was splashing out and hitting the house I was staying in. I was asleep and thought I was dreaming of being at sea. The whole room was rocking like a boat.
We lived on the 17th floor and whole house was swaying. Another time we were in the mountains and that was so intense that everybody fell down. In both cases there were hardly any damages. But apparently they both weren’t as intense as the one that’s been expected for ages now. I was woken by an earthquake once too and thought it was a storm. It’s so scary.
Wow! I’ve never been outdoors during an earthquake. We seem to get them in the middle of the night a lot.
What surprised me the most was that it felt like I was standing up in a flatbed truck going over railroad tracks. Not that I’ve ever done that, of course.
I’ve been thinking about the people and animals of Hawaii — first the floods on Kauai and now the eruption on the Big Island.
The power of Kilauea is awe-inspiring!
It is truly amazing to look at the footage. I can’t believe it’s the same place we saw.