Lava Tubes

volcanoes · underground · caves

Rivers of fire. Lava tubes are natural tunnels where super-hot molten lava flows from a volcano deep underground, kind of like underground rivers made of liquid rock.

Built-in protection. The outside of the lava flow cools and hardens into a solid crust that acts like a protective tunnel, keeping the hot lava inside from cooling down too fast and letting it travel much farther from the volcano.

Instant cave homes. When all the lava drains out of a tube, it leaves behind an empty tunnel that becomes a cave, which explorers and scientists love to study.

Found in certain lavas. Lava tubes are most common in volcanic systems where the lava is thin and runny, like in Hawaii, rather than thick and sticky lava that doesn't flow as easily.