Hawaii’s basaltic shield volcanoes have produced some of the world’s deepest and longest lava tubes—tunnels carved by rivers of molten rock. Caves etched by flowing water can take millions of years to form, while a volcanic eruption can generate miles of lava tubes in a matter of weeks or months. Thousands of these tubes twist, braid, and intersect beneath the surface of Hawaii’s Big Island
MANUEL CANALES, DAISY CHUNG, EVE CONANT, NGM STAFF; AMANDA HOBBS. ART: TOMÁŠ MÜLLER
SOURCES: DON COONS AND MICHAEL WARNER, CAVE CONSERVANCY OF HAWAII
