Kilauea

Active volcanic crater in Hawaii, on the southeastern slope of Mauna Loa, south-central Hawaii Island. At 1,250 m/4,090 ft, its cone has collapsed to form a caldera (basin-shaped crater) of about 10 sq km/4 sq mi, surrounded by volcanic rock.

Its enormous central fire pit, with a diameter of 900 m/3,000 ft and depth of 143 m/470 ft, is known as Halemaumau. The first recorded eruption of Kilauea was in 1790. It is constantly observed by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, situated on its rim.