Intertwined like a twisted mass of bodies falling into a pit, these strange lava formations are a peculiar natural curiosity. Located in Hawaii over the West Kamokuna lava skylight, this eerie photo contrasts the confident researcher standing over what appears to be the gates of hell.
The photo was taken in 1996 by Laszlo Kestay, who is currently the director of the USGS Astrogeology Science Center.
So what exactly is this image depicting? While our imagination may run wild with visions of demons being cast into oblivion or corpses falling into a lava pit, there is a scientific explanation for this phenomenon.
What we are seeing in this photo are masses of different lava flows that have dripped into a lava skylight. They have formed a crust around the skylight, likely due to a loss of heat in the area.
But what is a lava skylight? Molten lava can flow through underground channels called lava tubes. These tubes become visible when part of the roof collapses, creating a lava skylight.
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