LAVA DOG
Sonya, the World Heritage Pointer, Explores Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

World Heritage Site: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
State/Province: Hawaii
Country: USA
Continent: North America
Year it became a UNESCO World Heritage Site: 1987
Maps: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Island of Hawaii - The Big Island Hawaiian Islands Pacific Ocean
Episodes: Episode 1 | Episode 2 | Episode 3

Episode 3: A Huge Hole in the Mountain Top
by Rose Muenker

The landscape was eerie. The ground was bare rock, and steam hissed out of cracks in the earth.

"This is Kilauea Caldera, the home of the fire goddess, Pele," Tom said. "We'll ride on Crater Rim Drive to the overlook."

"What's a caldera?" Sonya asked.

"It's a large depression in the ground that was formed when Kilauea Volcano exploded."

At the Halema'uma'u Overlook, Sonya jumped out of the van and started up the trail.

She saw children standing around a crack in the ground. White vapor rose out of it.

"Be careful!" Tom warned. "That steam can burn you."

Sonya inched toward the crack, but she stayed a safe distance away from it.

"P. U.!" Sonya blurted. "That smell stinks!"

They continued up the trail. Everywhere she looked, Sonya could see steam rising from cracks.

They walked up to the edge of the big caldera. It was a huge, deep and round. Right below them, there was a deep crater inside it.

"That's Halema'uma'u Crater," Tom said. The gray sides were streaked with yellow, rust red and other colors.

"Can we go down inside?"

"Not into this crater, but there is a trail that goes across the big caldera. We can start down the trail so you can see what it's like."

"Whoopee!" Sonya jumped and spun in the air.

"But you'll need to come back another time to hike across the caldera. The trail is 3.5 miles long and takes at least half a day."

The trail was rocky and rough on Sonya's paws.

"I'll need to wear my hiking booties when I come back," she told Tom.

"Is this aa lava? It looks rough and jagged."

"That's right," Tom replied.

"And this lava rock looks like long, smooth ropes lying beside each other. It must be pahoehoe."

"You're right again, Sonya. You sound like a volcanologist. That's a scientist who studies volcanoes."

Sonya beamed.

The sky was gray with clouds, but the sun was hot. She was glad they had water with them.

"Look at these flowers!" Sonya pointed at bright red blossoms growing in the lava rock.

"It's amazing that flowers can grow here, isn't it," Tom commented.

Sonya saw a young man and woman hiking towards her. They had walked all the way across the big caldera.

She dashed up to them.

"What was your hike like?"

"It was awesome!" the young man said.

"I felt like a small bug in a huge world," the young woman said. "It was a strange feeling. But it was wonderful, too."

"I'm so glad I got to see this fantastic place," Sonya said. "The next time, I'll hike all the way across just like you!"

She saw Tom waving at her to return up to the rim.

"I've got to go now. See you next time!" THE END

Go to Sonya's Picks for links to websites about the sights and sounds of this World Heritage Site.

Test your understanding of words used in this story with the Word Match game.

LAVA DOG Sonya, the World Heritage Pointer, Explores Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

LAVA DOG
Sonya, the World Heritage Pointer, Explores Hawaii Volcanoes National Park