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:

Jul 26, 2019The party’s just starting
Feb 22, 2020It s not always sunny in Abu Simbel…
May 31, 2025Knuthöjdsmossen, a nature reserve in Sweden
Oct 10, 2022Indigenous Peoples Day
Apr 12, 2023Earth seen from the International Space Station
Sep 12, 2018A cutting-edge art gallery opens in Paris
Jan 9, 2026Muir Woods National Monument anniversary
Dec 16, 2022Atlanta Botanical Garden
Feb 6, 2024Bonsai Rock, Lake Tahoe, Nevada
Apr 11, 2018Zhangjiajie National Forest Park in Hunan Province, China
Jun 28, 2023Pride Month
Nov 27, 2019Have you turned off your electronic device?
Aug 14, 2023World Lizard Day
Jul 16, 2023Bear Hole Brook, Catskill Mountains, New York
Sep 15, 2020For Hispanic Heritage Month: Out of Many, One
Aug 1, 2019Hawaii Volcanoes National Park turns 103
Apr 6, 2018It’s National Walk to Work Day
Dec 8, 2024Notre-Dame Cathedral reopens
Oct 9, 2025Space Week isnt over yet!
Apr 17, 2020It s a ruff life
Jun 6, 2025Arromanches-les-Bains for the 81st anniversary of D-Day
Aug 7, 2022National Lighthouse Day
Aug 19, 2024National Aviation Day
Oct 27, 2024Polar Bear Week
Oct 20, 2021Feeling lazy? Today s your day.
May 25, 2021An improbable tribute for Towel Day
Aug 27, 2021Yabba-Dabba-Doo!
Dec 8, 2022The Cathedral of Florence, Italy
Jan 13, 2024Road to Hana, Maui, Hawaii
May 5, 2023Cinco de Mayo