June 4, 2012 at 9:44 am

23 Jaw-Dropping Photos of Lava

by twistedsifter

 

Lava refers both to molten rock expelled by a volcano during an eruption and the resulting rock after solidification and cooling. When first erupted from a volcanic vent, lava is a liquid at temperatures from 700 to 1,200 °C (1,292 to 2,192 °F). Up to 100,000 times as viscous as water, lava can flow great distances before cooling and solidifying.

A lava flow is a moving outpouring of lava, which is created during a non-explosive effusive eruption. When it has stopped moving, lava solidifies to form igneous rock. The term lava flow is commonly shortened to lava. In general, the composition of a lava determines its behavior more than the temperature of its eruption.

To learn more about lava, head over to Wikipedia for a review of different types of compositions, behaviours and landforms.

Below you will find a remarkable gallery of lava from a group of amazing photographers that braved the heat for these incredible shots. Many of the images are from lava hotspots such as Iceland, Italy (Mount Etna) and of course, Hawaii. Enjoy!

 

1. Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano

 

Eyjafjallajoekull Volcano Photography

 

 

2. Iceland

 

Lava flow

 

 

3. Lava Lake, Mount Nyiragongo, DR Congo

 

An Oval of Lava

 

 

4. Moa Heiau, Hawaii

 

Bread Dough

 

 

5. Hawaii

 

The Earth Is Alive

 

 

6. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

 

Back to the golden river of lava

 

 

7. Iceland

 

Red hot lava

 

 

8. Pacaya Volcano, Guatemala

 

Lava

Photograph by rackyross on Flickr

 

 

9. Kiluea Volcano, Hawaii

 

Day 3 Lava 416

Photograph by Cathy Scola on Flickr

 

 

10. Inside a lava cave, Hawaii

 

Inside a lava cave

 

 

11. Hawaii

 

Glassy ropes

 

 

12. Lava Lake at Kilauea Volcano, Hawaii

 

Lava lake inside Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

 

 

13. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland

 

Eyjafjallajökull

Photograph by Marc Szeglat

 

 

14. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

 

Lava Front

 

 

15. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

 

Lava tie - Eruzione del 2004 presso Serra Giannicola

 

 

16. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland

 

Eyjafjallajoekull Lava Falls

 

 

17. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

 

Etna lava types

 

 

18. Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy

 

Lava flow on Etna, 11 March 1999

 

 

19. Hawaii

 

Thy lava

 

 

20. Eyjafjallajokull, Iceland

 

Eyjafjallajoekull Lava Falls

 

 

21. Pu’u Kahaualea, Hawaii

 

spewing lava 23 Jaw Dropping Photos of Lava

Photograph by J.D. Griggs

 

 

22. Big Island of Hawaii

 

LAVA FLOW ON THE ISLAND OF HAWAII #3

 

 

23. Kiluea Volcano, Hawaii

 

Day 3 Lava 327

Photograph by Cathy Scola on Flickr

 

 

 

 

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