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HONOLULU – Once again, Kilauea volcano has captivated those on Hawaii’s Big Island. On Tuesday, it brought its fiery spectacle back to life, launching streams of lava to a breathtaking height of 400 feet (122 meters). This dramatic display has been an on-and-off attraction for nearly a year.
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, the fiery lava remains confined to Kilauea’s summit caldera, safely nestled within the boundaries of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Fortunately, no homes are currently at risk, allowing both locals and visitors to marvel at the natural wonder without concern.
This marks the 37th occurrence of such volcanic activity since the eruption series began last December. The volcano’s recent activity was heralded by intermittent spattering and overflows that started on Friday. Each of these explosive episodes has been relatively brief, lasting about a day or less, with the volcano taking breaks for a few days in between.
On some occasions, Kilauea’s lava fountains have rivaled the height of towering skyscrapers. This impressive phenomenon is partly due to the magma’s journey through narrow, pipelike vents, which allow gases within the molten rock to escape as it ascends to the surface.
In some cases, Kilauea’s lava towers have soared as high as skyscrapers. The volcano has generated such tall fountains in part because magma — which holds gases that are released as it rises — has been traveling to the surface through narrow, pipelike vents.
Kilauea is on Hawaii Island, the largest of the Hawaiian archipelago. It’s about 200 miles (322 kilometers) south of the state’s largest city, Honolulu, which is on Oahu.
It’s one of the world’s most active volcanoes and one of six active volcanoes in Hawaii.
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