The volcanic activity in Hawaii today is part of the ongoing Pu’u O’o eruption—the longest-duration eruption ever recorded on Kilauea. The Pu’u O’o eruption has been active, with varying levels of intensity, since January of 1983. Looking back a few decades, Kilauea’s previous record-holder was the spectacular Mauna Ulu eruption, which lasted from May of 1969 until July of 1974, generating amazing lava fountains, cascading lava falls, and eventually adding 230 acres of new land to Hawaii’s Big Island. As we wait to see how these new eruptions will play out, take a moment to view some of Kilauea’s most striking photos from the Mauna Ulu eruption, which ended only 40 years ago.
A Look Back at Kilauea's Spectacular 1969 to 1974 Mauna Ulu Eruption
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A 1,000-foot lava fountain in the Mauna Ulu vent area, on December 30, 1969. Lava flows, fed by the fountain, cascaded into Alo'i Crater, at left. 2,000 feet from the vent. A couple of hours after the photo was taken, the wind shifted, and the black Ford station wagon, still parked in the same place, was pelted with falling pumice and needed, though never received, a new paint job. #
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During the 1969 to 1974 Mauna Ulu eruption, a lava fall cascades into Alae Crater. Lava falls higher than Niagara Falls began to fill Alae Crater on August 5, 1969, following a catastrophic draining on August 4. Renewed fountaining at Mauna Ulu sent lava into Alae, starting to refill the crater. The total height of the lava falls was more than 330 feet, and the width more than 1,000 feet. #
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A skylight in a lava tube carrying lava from Alae Crater onto to Kilauea's south flank, on October 21, 1970. For much of 1970 and into 1971, lava flowed through a tube from Mauna Ulu into a complex lava lake in Alae Crater. The lake built natural levees, which allowed the lake level to rise much higher than the old crater rim. Lava tubes developed in the levees as exits for lava entering the lake. This photo shows one such exit tube. #
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Jeff Judd stands beside beehive spatter chimneys in Aloi Crater. These spires developed over time from a buildup of lava spatters on the surface of the lava fill in the crater. #
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A flow of lava covers a section of the Chain of Craters Road. Vegetation at the edges of the flow catches on fire, near Hi'iaka Crater in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on May 5, 1973. #
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Lava flowing from the summit crater of Mauna Ulu eastward into a pool at the west end of the trench on February 7, 1972. This was only about four days after eruptive activity resumed at Mauna Ulu after temporarily ending on October 15, 1971. #
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A view from Pu‘u Huluhulu of fountaining feeding two rivers of lava, causing renewed shield growth on January 30, 1974. Low fountains and repeated overflows at the Mauna Ulu crater built the shield higher. Lava flows were mostly brief and short, thereby increasing the relief between the top of the shield and its base. #
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