Inside Lava Lakes

Lava lakes are large molten lava pools inside volcanic craters.

Lava lakes usually hold basaltic lava in volcanic vents or craters.

Lava lakes form when vents erupt lava filling a crater partially.

Lava lakes also form when lava pours into a broad depression.

Some lava lakes build craters taller than the surrounding ground.

Lava lake behavior ranges from steady circulation to cyclic draining.

Gas bubbles rising cause lava levels to rise and fall rhythmically.

Mount Erebus in Antarctica hosts a unique phonolitic lava lake.

Erta Ale volcano in Ethiopia contains a basaltic lava lake.

Mount Nyiragongo’s lava lake reached 700 meters wide in 1982.

Masaya's lava lake was 1,000 meters wide during the Spanish conquest.

Kīlauea volcano had two lava lakes that disappeared and returned.

Persistent lava lakes are rare, only at a few volcanoes worldwide.

Lava lakes show Earth’s fiery heart in slow, mesmerizing motion.