Halema‘uma‘u lava lake, Kīlauea summit eruption—March 5, 2021

A zoomed-in view near the base of the west vent within Halema‘uma‘u crater, Kīlauea summit. As the lava flow continued from the northeast side of the west vent, it spread across the inactive crust of the northwest lava lake margin and eventually spilled into the active lava lake. This photo was taken at 5:00 p.m. HST, about 5 hours after the onset of the spattering at the vent. Lava also continued to enter into the lava lake from the inlet at the base of the west vent (center-left). USGS photo taken by J. Schmith on March 5, 2021.