by HONOLULU (AP) — The recurring eruption that has gripped residents and visitors on Hawaii’s Big Island for nearly a year continued Tuesday as the Kilauea volcano shot fountains of lava 400 feet (122 meters) into the air.
According to the US Geological Survey, the molten rock was located in the summit caldera of Kilauea in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. No homes were threatened.
It’s the 37th time Kilauea has shot lava since last December, when the current eruption began.
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The latest lava spread was preceded by sporadic splashes and overflows that began Friday. Each eruption episode lasted about a day or less. In between, the volcano took a break for at least a few days.
In some cases, Kilauea’s lava towers are as tall as skyscrapers. The volcano produced such high fountains in part because magma – which contains gases released as it rises – reached the surface through narrow, tubular vents.
Kilauea is located on the island of Hawaii, the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. It is located about 200 miles (322 kilometers) south of the state’s largest city, Honolulu, on Oahu.
It is one of the most active volcanoes in the world and one of six active volcanoes in Hawaii.
