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

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Jan 24, 2022Manhattan
May 19, 2022Glass footbridge in Zhangjiajie, China
Apr 22, 202050 years of Earth Day
Sep 4, 2018What the hay?
Feb 9, 2023Lower Antelope Canyon, Arizona
Jun 16, 2021Put your flippers in the air…
Jan 27, 2021A dramatic view of Sicily
Sep 7, 2018An historic forest
Feb 7, 2018The Kelpies statues in Falkirk, Scotland
Jan 27, 2019A memorial in Germany
May 27, 2018Travel Sunday: San Francisco
Oct 18, 2024Autumn in Central Park, New York
Apr 25, 2019Here comes summer
Oct 19, 2025Apples ready for harvest in Minnesota
Jul 4, 2022Independence Day
Jun 10, 2021A Portuguese fort takes a star turn
Jan 20, 2025Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Nov 15, 2021Manatee Awareness Month
May 1, 2019Purple flowers and Golden Week
Sep 9, 2019A toast to California!
Sep 15, 2023National Hispanic Heritage Month
May 14, 2019Cannes, France, in the spotlight
Dec 19, 2020Four Sisters, thousands of trees
Oct 29, 2024Great horned owl
Nov 14, 2024Manarola, Cinque Terre National Park, Liguria, Italy
Jan 19, 2026Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Nov 12, 2018Honoring those who served
Apr 24, 2023Old underground cellar, Bavaria, Germany
Oct 4, 2018From Sputnik to extraterrestrial storms
Jun 23, 2019Adorable activism