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Brief explanation: Lava lakes are accumulations of larger volumes of liquid lava above one or several vents, unsually contained within a crater on the summit of the volcano. Volcanoes with eruptions that produce long-lasting lava lakes are relatively rare; some volcanoes are famous for their lava lakes: Kilauea (Hawaii) (no lava lake at present), Erta Ale (Ethiopia), Nyiragongo (at present probably the most violent lava lake in the world, about 120 meters wide; see photos).
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| Circular patterns of fractures of partially cooled surface plates are drawn towards the strong fountain. | Exploding bubbles in a marginal fountain, tearing apart fragments of thin crust on the lake. | Irregular boundaries of crust fragments on the lava lake. | Bubbling lava... |
