Hawaii/Big Island: Hawaii Volcanoes NP – Coastal Plane
The Chain of Craters roads takes you down from the Kilauea crater and to the shore, descending the lava flows escarpment. This is some of the most recent lava flows in the world, all mostly from last few decades or so. It’s a surreal landscapes of black lava flows – you can see both – a’a and pahoehoe lava. A’a is rough, jagged lava flow characterized by its blocky texture and rapid movement, and they appear very black and rocky. Pahoehoe is a smooth, ropy lava flow formed by the rapid cooling and solidification of lava. Pahoehoe flows often move more slowly than a’a flows and can create intricate patterns as they cool. Once you get to the coast you can also see the lava cliffs where flows of lava plunged into the water, forming columns and arches. A totally surreal, Martian or Lunar-like landscape!
