HONOLULU -- A lava flow at Kilauea volcano on the Big Island is creating a spectacular sight.
Video shot at sunset over Kilauea this past weekend showed a flow about 100 feet wide and a mile long.
Kilauea has been erupting continuously for more than 23 years.
The flow is what scientists call a fissure eruption. The flow indicates a new phase of an on-going eruption, according to scientists.
The most recent fissure eruption has been going for more than two weeks. It is flowing to the North East near the Pu'uo'o vent.
"Our data indicates it comes from Pu`uo`o plumbing, a rupture of Pu`uo`o," said Jim Kauakikaua of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.
Officials have kept access to the July 21 eruption site in the Kahauale`a Natural Area Reserve closed. State officials have kept the Captain's Trail also known as the Pu`u `O`o Trail and Kahauale`a Trail closed since then.
The U.S. Geological Survey and the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources have been monitoring the flow closely.
Copyright 2007 by
TheHawaiiChannel.com
All rights reserved.
This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
