Only segment of fissure system active on first day of eruption
Detailed Description
The only surviving segment of the fissure system active on the first day of the eruption. View looks west and shows the fissure segments, stepping right, and spatter rampart along right (uphill) side of the segments. No spatter rampart formed on the downhill (left) side of the segments, because falling spatter was carried away by lava flows. Visitors today can view these spatter ramparts along a national park trail. However, lava flows erupted in 1973 have covered part of the area between the ramparts and the road. Cracks visible in photo not associated with spatter ramparts were formed on October 20, 1969