Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Apr 27, 2025

Halemaumau Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

As National Park Week wraps up today, let"s explore a park in a land sculpted by fire and time—Hawai"i Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island. The Halema"uma"u Crater is an intermittent lava lake in Kīlauea, one of Earth"s most active volcanoes. Since it was first documented in 1823, volcanic activity has caused the crater to fill with lava, partially collapse, erupt in fountains of lava, expand to twice its size on two occasions, and at times fill with groundwater. All this activity demonstrates the unpredictable raw power that lies below the surface of the Earth. The natural and cultural importance of this site led to the establishment of Hawai"i Volcanoes National Park in 1916, and to it being named a UNESCO International Biosphere Reserve and World Heritage Site in the 1980s.

© Stephen Matera/Tandem Stills + Motion

palette

Today in History

Apr 27, 2018National Park Week: Yosemite National Park, California
Apr 27, 2019Aloe in bloom
Apr 27, 2020That s quite a schnoz, baby tapir
Apr 27, 2021Design for Each and All
Apr 27, 2022Midnight sun
Apr 27, 2023South Padre Island, Texas
Apr 27, 2024National Go Birding Day

More Desktop Wallpapers:

Nov 15, 2025Irohazaka Road in fall, Nikko, Tochigi, Japan
Jul 14, 2018Does this shark have an Irish accent?
Oct 26, 2019 FOR FOREST by Klaus Littmann
Jun 28, 2019Montreux, Switzerland, and all that jazz
Apr 16, 2025Anniversary of Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah
Apr 5, 2020The frog prince?
Mar 21, 2020It s World Poetry Day
Mar 26, 2022Spring awakens
Jul 15, 2023Castelmezzano, Italy
Jun 11, 2025Greater flamingos, Lüderitz, Namibia
Nov 15, 2020What’s blooming in New Zealand?
Dec 12, 2023Poinsettia Day
Apr 27, 2021Design for Each and All
Aug 26, 2024Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge
Jan 8, 2022American bison
Jan 23, 2021A sleeping green giant
Jan 21, 2024Squirrel Appreciation Day
Jan 12, 2025Crescent-tail bigeye fish, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Oct 3, 2022World Architecture Day
Apr 6, 2022Crested caracaras
Feb 4, 2026Rosa Parks Day
Aug 5, 2018Friendship Day in the City of Brotherly Love
Mar 11, 2021Welcome to the drainpipe of the Pacific
Mar 6, 2023Icelandic horses, Iceland
Aug 3, 2025Blooming sunflowers
Jul 4, 2022Independence Day
Aug 14, 2019Lizard of mystery
Apr 2, 2020Pascua Florida Day
Jan 23, 2025Sundance Film Festival
Jun 5, 2021Bird s-eye view on World Environment Day