Slip and Slide We drive close to the top of the volcano. T en we start hiking. Usually, lava rock is hard. T is lava is crumbly. It breaks apart beneath our feet. T is crumbly rock is one of the strange things about this volcano. We keep climbing. Finally, we


reach the volcano’s opening, or crater. Magma rises through tunnels inside the volcano. It blasts out of the crater.


Rock Art T e inside of the crater looks strange. As the lava shoots up, it forms shapes. Some shapes harden before they fall to the ground. One shape looks like a wing. Others


look like tall, skinny chimneys. Some chimneys spit lava into the air. T e lava glitters as it falls. At night, the crater looks even stranger. Some rocks seem to glow. Green flames spurt from some of the chimneys.


Looking for Lava I want to go inside the crater. I need to take pictures. First, though, I must be sure it’s safe. In this volcano, hot lava can be hard to see. T at’s another strange thing about it. Usually, lava glows red. It’s thick


and slowly flows across the ground. When it cools, it turns into black rock. Not in this volcano. T e lava here is as runny as oil. T e lava moves quickly in a thin


Lava hardens in the shape of a wing.


stream. It’s black, not red. T at’s because it’s cooler than other lava. Here, the lava is only about 550° Celsius (1,000° Fahrenheit). Other types of lava are twice as hot. Still, the danger is real. T is lava is hot enough to burn.


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