Pictures of Hawaii Big Island Lava Flowing Directly Into the Ocean

Considering all the videos I’ve seen in the past of lava flowing into the ocean from Hawaii’s Big Island I did not realize how rare an event this really is:

Streams of lava pouring into the ocean from the Big Island have been captured in a rare video that’s drawing attention from around the globe.

The Kilauea Volcano has been erupting continuously from its Pu’u’O’o vent since 1983, according to Reuters, but the lava flow usually doesn’t make the seven-mile journey into the ocean.

Lava first started flowing into the ocean on November 25. You can track the lava’s flow on the National Parks Service website.

And officials are cautioning curious tourists to keep their distance. See a slideshow of the lava flow.

“Ocean entries can be quite beautiful but also quite dangerous,” Janet Babb, spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey’s Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, told Reuters.

Babb said chunks of lava and hot water created from the lava-to-ocean impact can hurt people standing as far as 100 yards away.

“The molten lava meeting the ocean creates steam which may look innocuous, but can be quite hazardous,” she said. “It’s acidic and contains tiny particles of volcanic glass. And waves crashing with the lava can send out scalding water.”  [Yahoo News]

You can see more video and pictures at the link.