Lava lakes of the world

Sometimes in the volcanic vent (the opening through which erupt volcanic lava or gases) or in other low areas forms a large mass of molten rock – lava. In most cases, such lava lakes are short-lived because the lava cools down after the end of the eruption and turns into a rock. But in rare cases, lava lakes form in the volcanoes and “live” for decades and even centuries.

Such permanent lava lakes need quite special circumstances – a steady supply of lava and heat and good viscosity and homogeneity of lava. There is needed a constant stirring of the lava so that it does not cool off. This is achieved mostly by gases that leave the lava, creating impressive fountains.

Inaccessible lava lakes

These specific conditions meet only in a few places on Earth. Here an intriguing fact is that some of these lava lakes are in areas that are very hard to access. Sure, Erta Ale and Mount Erebus are in inhospitable areas that are not too inviting for a general tourist. But much, much worse is Mount Michael – here the elusive lava lake is well protected from visitors. Around the summit of this volcano is a thick layer of ice and snow. Walk there if you dare – but this thick layer of snow is half-melted, with countless cracks and caves in it. One extra step towards the crater – and the ground will collapse inevitably. Thus humans have not seen the lava lake of Mount Michael with their eyes – only through satellite images. It is possible that at least one more such elusive lava lake exists on the Mawson Peak of Big Ben volcano on Heard Island.

Short-lived lava lakes and ponds in the 21st century

Several more lava lakes and lava ponds existed for shorter periods of time since 2000. Such features more often are called “lava ponds” and exist for a short while.

Africa

• Karthala in Comoros is quite active volcano. In April 2005 in Chahalé crater formed an impressive lava lake which after some days “froze”. Then, in November was a great, 60-80 m wide lava lake. A few weeks later it was “frozen” again. Similar short-lived episodes repeated on May 2006, and January 2007. (9)
• Ol Doinyo Lengai – This unique carbonatite volcano in Tanzania often has had small, short-lived lava lakes, which have been registered in different lava cones in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2018. (7) Carbonatite lava melts at comparatively low temperatures and this is not a glowing red lava, but a less impressive black liquid.
• Nabro Volcano in Eritrea, Danakil Depression had an unexpected eruption in 2011. Then, something similar to a lava lake was noticed in the northern caldera of the volcano. (10)
• Piton de la Fournaise in Réunion often had short-lived lava lakes, which have been observed also in 2000, 2001, 2002, 2008, 2015, 2018, and 2019. These were small ponds erupting lava flows and not long-lived lava lakes. (8)

Central America

• Pacaya – this Guatemalan volcano had a lava lake in August 2000 – June 2001. The glow of the lake was visible from Guatemala City. (3)
• Telica in Nicaragua repeatedly had short-lived lava lakes – in 1971 and in late 1999-early 2000. (5)
• Turrialba in Costa Rica had a small lava lake in June 2017. There is no further information about its existence. (6)

Islands of the Pacific Ocean

• Pu’u ‘Ō’ō crater in Hawaii (not shown on the map – on Kilauea volcano close to Halemaumau) repeatedly had a lava pond in March 2002, July 2005, September 2008 – early 2009, March 2011 – early August 2011, August – September 2011, January – December 2013, January-August 2014, January 2017 – May 2018. Sometimes this smaller pond increased to a more significant size. (11)
• Tofua volcano in Tonga had a vent (named Lofia) with glowing lava in May-June 2006. This was a comparatively small pond of lava… but technically – also a lava lake. It has existed earlier as well, e.g. in 1993 and some characteristics of lava lake were observed also later, in 2009 and 2010. (4)

Subantarctic islands

• Mawson Peak of Big Ben is located on the remote Heard Island. The last eruption took place here in 2008. Then satellite data showed that there is a lava lake with a diameter of 100-150 m. It is possible that this lava lake exists here up to this day.
• Mount Belinda is in South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands, Montagu Island. The lava lake was noticed here by the satellite in 2004 and, most likely, now does not exist anymore. The eruption of the volcano in 2002 – 2009 was quite impressive because it created a 90 m wide, subglacial river under the glacier.

References

1. Mount Erebus Volcano Observatory, New Mexico Tech. Accessed on April 22, 2019
2. Erebud, Smithsonian Institution, National Museum of Natural History, Global Volcanism Program. Accessed on April 22, 2019
3. Pacaya Volcano – John Seach, Volcano Live. Accessed on October 19, 2019
4. Tofua, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
5. Telica, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
6. Turrialba, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
7. Ol Doinyo Lengai, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
8. Piton de la Fournaise, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
9. Karthala, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
10. Nabro, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 19, 2019
11. Kilauea, Global Volcanism Program, Smithsonian Institution. Accessed on October 20, 2019