Aerial view SW into the crater of Pu'u O'o cone at sunrise. Since early June, 1997, lava has erupted nearly continuously from a vent inside Pu`u`O`o (incandescence on right) and poured into the inner crater to form a lava pond (incandescence on left). Lava from the pond usually drained back into the ground. On several occasions, lava filled the entire crater and overflowed through low points in the crater rim. Note the black "lava ring" on the south crater wall marking the height at which lava overflows the east rim. The crater is approximately 350 m by 200 m across.