Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Apr 27, 2025

Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

As National Park Week wraps up today, let"s explore a park in a land sculpted by fire and time—Hawai"i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. The Halema"uma"u Crater is an intermittent lava lake in Kīlauea, one of Earth"s most active volcanoes. Since it was first documented in 1823, volcanic activity has caused the crater to fill with lava, partially collapse, erupt in fountains of lava, expand to twice its size on two occasions, and at times fill with groundwater. All this activity demonstrates the unpredictable raw power that lies below the surface of the Earth. The natural and cultural importance of this site led to the establishment of Hawai"i Volcanoes National Park in 1916, and to it being named a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site in the 1980s.

© Stephen Matera/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Apr 27, 2018National Park Week: Yosemite National Park, California
Apr 27, 2019Aloe in bloom
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Apr 27, 2021Design for Each and All
Apr 27, 2022Midnight sun
Apr 27, 2023South Padre Island, Texas
Apr 27, 2024National Go Birding Day
Apr 27, 2026The glass dome of Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II, Milan, Italy

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Sep 1, 2021It s National Mushroom Month!
Apr 8, 2018It’s Draw a Bird Day
Feb 15, 2020Whales in winter
Jul 13, 2022International Rock Day
Aug 19, 2024National Aviation Day
Mar 23, 2019What happened to these clouds?
Nov 24, 2023Hoh Rain Forest, Olympic National Park, Washington
Apr 24, 2020Celebrating 30 years of eye-opening images
Aug 27, 2023Jeju Island, South Korea
Sep 6, 2023Rethymno, Crete, Greece
Sep 8, 2019Just a couple of yellow-billed hornbills
Jul 4, 2023Happy Independence Day!
Nov 28, 2018Christmas comes to New York City
Dec 27, 2022Blue Lagoon spa, Grindavík, Iceland
Oct 18, 2018Fall comes to the Last Frontier
Feb 10, 2019Groovy!
Oct 7, 2025Fall colors below Mount Sneffels near Ridgway, Colorado
Jan 16, 2019Up on the glacier
Jul 3, 2025Rainbow River, Rainbow Springs State Park, Florida
Nov 29, 2021Rainbow Mountain
Jul 28, 2020Over the boardwalk
Nov 5, 2022Tigh Mor Trossachs on Loch Achray, Scotland
Mar 30, 2024Brown-throated three-toed sloth in cecropia tree, Costa Rica
Sep 21, 2020A gentle wind fills this sail
Jul 11, 2026Port de Saint-Goustan, Auray, Brittany, France
Apr 25, 2022World Penguin Day
Feb 9, 2020Hollywood s big night
Oct 10, 2020Birds of a feather
Feb 11, 2026Death Valley National Parks Anniversary
Mar 30, 2026Demoiselle cranes, India