August 1, 2012 at 9:22 am

12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

by twistedsifter

 

Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow. Typically they are expelled by a volcano during an eruption and can be actively draining lava from a source; or they can be extinct, meaning the lava flow has ceased and the rock has cooled and left a long, cave-like channel. [Source]

Lava tubes are a type of lava cave, formed when an active low-viscosity lava flow develops a continuous and hard crust, which thickens and forms a roof above the still-flowing lava stream. Tubes form in one of two ways: by the crusting over of lava channels, and from pahoehoe (lava) flows where the lava is moving under the surface. [Source]

Lava tubes can be up to 14–15 metres (46–49 ft) wide, though are often narrower, and run anywhere from 1–15 metres (3 ft 3 in–49 ft 3 in) below the surface. Lava tubes can also be extremely long; one tube from the Mauna Loa 1859 flow enters the ocean about 50 kilometers (31 mi) from its eruption point, and the Cueva del Viento – Sobrado system on Teide, Tenerife island, is over 18 kilometers (11 mi) long, due to extensive braided maze areas at the upper zones of the system. [Source]

Below you will find a gallery of beautiful lava tubes around the world along with some interesting images of various formations within lava tubes such as lavacicles and lava pillars. When viewing, try to imagine a time when lava was flowing through these remarkable tubes. Enjoy!

 

 

 

1. Manjanggul Lava Tube – Jeju Island, South Korea

 

inside manjanggul lava tube jeju island south korea 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Gary Cycles

 

 

 

2. Undara Lava Tubes – Queensland, Australia

 

undara lava tubes queensland australia 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Jane Farquhar

 

 

 

3. Thurston Lava Tube – Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island of Hawaii

 

thurston lava tube hawaii volcanoes national park big island of hawaii 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Michael Oswald

 

 

 

4. Lava Tube in Lava Beds National Monument – California, USA

 

lava tube at lava beds national monument california usa 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Dave Bunnell

 

 

 

5. Manjanggul Lava Tube – Jeju Island, South Korea

 

manjanggul lava tube, jeju island, korea, 2006

 

 

 

6. Valentine Cave Lava Tube – Lava Beds National Monument, California

 

valentine cave lava tube lava beds national monument california usa 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Dave Bunnell

 

 

 

7. Lavacicles in Mushpot Cave Lava Tube – California, USA

 

lavacicles mushpot cave lava beds national monument 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Walter Siegmund

 

 

 

8. Shark Tooth Stalactites – Big Island of Hawaii, USA

 

shark tooth stalactites inside lava tube 12 Amazing Pictures of Lava Tubes Around the World

Photograph by Dave Bunnell

 

 

 

9. Lava Pillar at Manjanggul – Jeju Island, South Korea

 

Manjanggul

Photograph by Rahul Rithe on Flickr

 

 

 

10. Manjanggul Lava Tube – Jeju Island, South Korea

 

inside manjanggul - tunnels

 

 

 

11. Lava Tube at Mojave National Preserve – San Bernardino County, California

 

Lava Tube

Photograph by Chazz Layne on Flickr

 

 

 

12. Manjanggul Lava Tube – Jeju Island, South Korea

 

Manjanggul

Photograph by Jeff Boyd on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

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