How long is the lava tube in Volcano National Park?
The Kazumura lava tube system, within the 500 year-old 'Aila'au lava flow of Kilauea, is more than 40 miles (65 km) long and is thought to be the longest lava tube cave in the world. Tubes may be up to several dozen feet wide.
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The 600-foot-long cave is a great introduction to lava tube geology. The solidified drips and waves of once-liquid lava rock clearly show the molten forces that created this cave. Your flashlight reveals beautiful shapes and colors of minerals leeching from the rock.
The Kilauea is a dynamic volcano, and lava viewing conditions change daily. Even if a viewing area is organized by the National Park, this does not guarantee close access of the lava.
Lava cools very quickly at first and forms a thin crust that insulates the interior of the lava flow. As a result, basaltic lava flows can form crusts that are thick enough to walk on in 10-15 minutes but the flow itself can take several months to cool!
Even though you might not see lava flowing out – as is the case now with Fagradalsfjall – you'll often see steam or gases rising from the crater, secondary cones or even from fissures within the lava flows. The surface of the lava looks a blackish-grey colour once it has cooled down, but appearances can be deceptive.