Template:POTD protected/2008-03-17

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Pāhoehoe lava

Pāhoehoe lava overflows from this open lava channel on the island of Hawaiʻi as a result of a fissure vent eruption. The channel is crusting over with a V-shaped opening pointing upstream. The crusting-over process usually starts at the upstream end. The crust grows downstream for a considerable distance, then the crust founders and sinks, opening the channel to crusting over again.

Photo credit: Mila Zinkova