As the Puna lava flow remains mostly stalled near the town of Pahoa on the Big Island of Hawaii, visitors up the slope of the Kilauea volcano can still witness some pretty impressive geologic phenomena.
In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, most visitors are on the lookout for liquid magma, but astute observers may notice something even more perplexing: clumps of glistening, golden threads blowing in the winds. The hair-like strands can stack so high you’d think Rapunzel was sheared nearby.
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This fresh pinch of hair is from the Halemaʻumaʻu Overlook vent on Hawaii Island’s Kilauea volcano.
Sheets of Pele’s Hair can also be found on Erta Ale in Ethiopia, sometimes called the “Gateway to Hell” or “smoking mountain.”
