There are two major lines of weakness on Kilauea volcanoes. These lines are called "Rift Zones" and are the pathways for most of the magma that erupts on the flanks of the volcano. Here we see the start of the Southwest Rift Zone, close to where the crater rim road crosses a series of deep ground cracks. Here two people are looking at a thin lava flow that erupted in 1971 and partially spilled into the rift.
From here you can continue on to Stop 3 or you can pick another point from the Kilauea Crater Ground Tour.
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Ground Tour of Kilauea Crater]
Author: Lori Glaze
Copyright by P. Mouginis-Mark
Curator: Lori Glaze