Four Relativity Safe, Active Volcanoes to get Up, Close and Personal!
Kilauea is one of the world’s most active volcanoes. It is a shield-type volcano that makes up the southeastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii. The volcano rises 4,190 feet (1,227 meters) above sea level and is about 14 percent of the land area of the Big Island. The summit caldera contains a lava lake known as Halema`uma`u that is said to be the home of the Hawaiian volcano goddess, Pele.
Things to do in Kilauea
Kalalau Trail
Lithified Sand Dunes
Spouting Horn
Kauai Glass Beach
To the casual observer, Kilauea appears to be part of the larger volcano Mauna Loa, but geological data indicates that it is a separate volcano with its own vent and conduit system. Kilauea has had more than 60 recorded eruptions in the current cycle, according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and has been erupting on a continuous basis since 1983.
On May 3, 2018, the volcano erupted dramatically, several hours after a magnitude-5.0 quake struck the Big Island. The eruption spewed lava into residential subdivisions in the Puna district of the Big Island, prompting mandatory evacuations of the Leilani Estates and Lanipuna Gardens subdivisions, the Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported.
There are not one, but three active volcanoes located on the island of Hawaii (Hualalai, Mauna Loa, and Kilauea) and you can easily check them all out. That said, Kilauea is the only one of the three that’s been erupting continuously since 1983 — the other two have not erupted in a little while — so this is the one you want to focus on.
Drive the Chain of Crater Road (18.8 miles).
Drive Chain of Craters Road
Chain of Craters Road is an Exceptionally Scenic and Spectacular Drive.
Since 1986, lava has flowed repeatedly over Chain of Craters Road/Highway 130. The Park’s acreage has been increased by hundreds of acres and nearly 9 miles (14.5 km) of road have been inundated by the flows. In June 1989, Waha‘ula Visitor Center and associated buildings were burnt and covered by lava. The Waha‘ula Heiau was surrounded by lava more than once and finally buried entirely in August 1997. The Kamoamoa village site, heiau, campground, picnic area, and black sand beach were covered by lava in November 1992.
In 2003, flows covered Chain of Craters road just past the Hōlei Sea Arch. When conditions permit, a drive down to the “End of the Road” offers visitors an opportunity to view excellent examples of the slow advance of lava across the coastal plain. These flows are characteristic of pāhoehoe on relatively flat terrain at a great distance from its vent.
Presently, the Chain of Craters Road is 18.8 miles (30.3 km) to the end of the road with an elevation change of about 3,700 ft. (1,127.8 meters). Chain of Craters Road begins off of Crater Rim Drive, 3.3 miles or 5.3 kilometers south of Kīlauea Visitor Center.
If you are able to, we suggest you put on your hiking boots and hit the Halema’uma’u Trail
(1.8 miles round trip). Depending on the danger level, you may be able to get very close to the main crater, but if the signs say for you to go no further, respect them. You don’t want to be breathing in high levels of sulphur dioxide or be at the wrong place when the volcano erupts and throws rocks and lava. There are more day hikes
for those who want to explore further.
For those with a decent fitness level and enough time, there are several wilderness hikes
that will take you as close as safely possible to the flow of lava and craters. One of the most popular backcountry hikes, the Nāpau Trail (14 miles round trip), follows the flow of the magma underground through exposed lava fields.
Hotels Nearby Kilauea Volcano
If only Volcanos were the only reason to visit Iceland you would still be thrilled, but Volcanos are only the tip of the Iceberg. We’ll get into in a bit.
There are enough volcanoes in Iceland for you to hike them for the rest of your life (130), but if you want to check out the most active volcanoes on the island, Katla, Hekla, and Eyjafjallajökull are the ones to conquer.
How many volcanoes are there in Iceland? How often do they erupt? What is the chance of an Icelandic volcano going off on your holiday? Are they safe to visit? Read ahead for the ultimate guide to volcanoes in Iceland.
What you can do, however, is hike the 15.5-mile Fimmvörðuháls trail that is located between Katla and Eyjafjallajökull (you can do it in one day or two days depending on your fitness level and your preference).
You get to see two volcanoes in one hike and you remain safe. Jackpot!
Hotels near Iceland’s Volcanos
You can hike on your own from Rifugio Sapienza (you’ll have to get there by car or public transport) until meter 2700. After that, you’ll need to jump in a cable car (funivia) or a 4×4 minibus to reach the summit.
If you don’t feel comfortable hiking Etna on your own, you can hike with a group for the “long trek”. There is only one group departure daily early in the morning leaving from Rifugio Sapienza.
If you want to hike a little, but don’t feel capable of hoofing it all the way, you can hike with a group for the “short trek”. The short tour includes the cable car (about 15 minutes), 4X4 (about 40 minutes), and a short trek (40 minutes) to a low crater.
New Zealand Beaches
BEST New Zealand BEACH HOTELS AND PRICES
The country has the world’s most easily accessible active volcano — an island 30 miles off the shore of the North Island in the Bay of Plenty.
Because this is a marine volcano (most of it lies beneath the ocean), there is no hiking needed — you’ll be dropped off right into the crater.
You’ll have to wear masks and hard hats for safety purposes — the last eruption was in April 2016, so you’re never too cautious when hiking around the crater of an active volcano that’s constantly releasing sulphuric acid.
Hotels Near Whakaari, New Zealand VOLCANO