Volcanic landscapes on the Big Island of Hawaii

The Big Island, Hawaii, is the youngest in the Hawaiian chain of volcanic islands, and has the freshest volcanic formations, making for some very interesting and unusual landscapes. This first image is from the Kilauea crater, still actively ejecting steam following its major eruptions in recent years, and in this image the steam blends in with the dramatic clouds above the crater.

Kilauea Crater venting steam on the Big Island, Hawaii

The following images are from the trail leading to the vent dome of Kilauea-Iki Crater, adjacent to the Kilauea Crater shown above

Along the trail to Waimea

Hiking trail leading to the eruption dome in Kilauea-Iki, which last erupted in 1958 creating the lava lake visible in the distance of the crater.

Plant life, including the bright red Ohi’a lehua flowers, begin to reclaim the landscape some 60 years after the last spectacular eruption of Kilauea Iki. The Ohi’a are among the first to re-establish, and they have mechanisms to exclude the toxic sulfur dioxide that comes from fumaroles following the eruptions.