Kīlauea summit eruption — October 17, 2021

A telephoto view of where lava exits the spatter cone at the west vent and flows into the perched lava lake in Halema‘uma‘u crater, at the summit of Kīlauea. The crustal plates and spreading zones form a complex pattern. This photo was taken from the northwest rim of the crater, in an area of Hawai‘i Volcanoes National Park that remains closed to the public due to safety concerns. USGS photo by M. Patrick.