Lava Wash

Lava wash comes from fast moving lava flowing downhill and finding the fastest route to the bottom of the hill.  It leaves a channel resembling that of a stream.  In some of the pictures you can actually see where the lava turned and  "splashed" up the side of the rocks.  This wash was occupied by the flows of 1971 and 1974.  The areas photographed are near Crater Rim Drive near the Southwest Rift Zone.

Photo by Thom Wilch

Photo by Tim Lincoln

Here is an example of where the lava turned the corner and "splashed" up the side. 

Photo by Tim Lincoln

Next Stop

Back to all stops

Kilauea Homepage

Hawaii Homepage