The 3 x 5 km caldera at the summit of Kīlauea is home of the Goddess Pele and has been Hawaii's most active volcano during historical time. Kīlauea is a shield volcano on the east flank of Mauna Loa, visible in the distance. Eruptions originate both from within the summit caldera and from SW and E rift zones that extend to the sea and predominately produce lava flows, with occasional explosive eruptions.

Photo by Richard Fiske, 1967 (Smithsonian Institution).

This image is made available under the Public Domain Dedication CC0 license, but proper attribution is appreciated.

Galleries: Shield Volcanoes

Keywords: shield volcano | caldera

Mauna Loa

Kilauea