Hawaiian Lava Lake Hits New Record High The lava lake in
Halemau'ma'u crater at the summit of Kilauea volcano on Jan. 10,
2013. CREDIT: U.S. Geological Survey The orange glow atop
Hawaii's Mount Kilauea was a little stronger yesterday (Jan. 15)
than it has been in recent weeks. The volcano's lava lake lapped
over the inner ledge of its vent, reaching a new high and bring
molten rock closer than ever to the floor of Halema'uma'u
crater. The level was about 80 feet (25 meters) below the crater
floor, the highest level reached since the summit vent blasted
open in March 2008, the U.S. Geological Survey reports. The lava
lake last surged on Oct. 23, 2012, when the high mark was
measured at 100 feet (31 m) below the crater floor. Since fresh
lava appeared atop Kilauea in 2008, the lake level has varied
from near the crater to out of sight, more than 650 feet (200 m)
beneath the crater floor. The lake sits in a vent, which is
actually a pipe-like crater within the smaller crater called
Halema'uma'u. And Halema'uma'