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Photo of white aragonite Photo of a pallid bat Photo of a lava tube (cave) entrance Photo of a shaft of light at the entrance of Carlsbad Cavern Photo of stalactites and soda straw speleothems Photo of someone looking toward the entrance of a cave Photo of stalagmites and aragonite speleothems
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Entrances into a long lava tube in Hawaii

Lava Caves
 
When fluid, molten lava flows out of the ground, it works its way downhill. Soon the surface of this lava stream cools and hardens into a crust. Although the outer crust is hard, the lava inside is still molten, and continues to flow downhill. Once the molten lava has passed through, a lava tube, or cave, is all that remains.
 
The following is a partial list of National Park Service units that include lava caves:
 
Craters of the Moon National Monument,
  Idaho
El Malpais National Monument,
  New Mexico
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park,
  Hawaii
Lava Beds National Monument,
  California
 
 
Return to the Tour Index Page Return to Tour Index Page
Go to the Solution/Limestone/Marble Caves Page Solution Caves
Go to the Talus Caves Page Talus Caves
Go to the Sea Caves Page Sea Caves
Go to the Caves with Karst Features Caves with Karst Features
 
Cave and Karst Program
Geologic Resources Division
National Park Service
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Last Updated: August 6, 2007
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