Photograph by D.A. Swanson on 30 December 1969
Lava cascade
A cascade of water is a small waterfall formed as water descends
over rocks. In similar fashion, a lava cascade refers to the
rush or descent of lava over a cliff. In Hawai`i, lava cascades
typically occur when lava spills over the edge of a crater, a fault scarp,
or a sea cliff into the ocean.
In the image shown here, lava pours over edge of
Aloi Crater in a dazzling lava cascade
about 25 meters tall during the 1969-71 Mauna Ulu eruption on the
east rift zone of Kilauea Volcano, Hawai`i. The lava fountain in
background is about 30 m tall.