KILAUEA. THE WORLD'S MOST ACTIVE VOLCANO Part 2
Description
The original catalog description provided by the Ford Motor Company reads as follows: “Kilauea, the world’s greatest active volcano, located on the island of Hawaii and easily reached by train or auto from Hilo Bay.” Map of the Hawaiian Islands showing location of volcano. “Kilauea is of majestic proportions. Towering 4,040 feet above the sea, at the summit of a shattered mountain, its crater measures eight miles in circumference, while the floor of the crater has an area of 2,650 acres.” View of crater. “Sulphur beds cover several acres. While the amount of sulphur deposited is not great, it is quite pure, and small pieces of sulphur are popular as souvenirs.” Tourists on sulphur bed - steam rising from ground. “A weird sight is furnished by the steam that rises from the cracks and crevices on every side; for centuries these same exhausts of steam have played without cessation.” Several views of steam rising from ground. “The journey across the lava field is full of interest. Great hollow domes of lava -- cracks and fissures to be inspected -- steam crevices and heat crevices where souvenir postal cards are toasted.” View of lava field. “In 1889 the ‘Great Crack’ appeared. It opened without warning while a number of visitors were in the pit. On their way back they found this yawning gulf where they had passed but a few hours before.” Tourists jumping back and forth across crack. “To reach the present scene of action the visitor must descend into the pit Halemaumau, in the bottom of which, 150 feet below the observer, the red hot lava will be seen boiling in a wild mad fury.” Boiling lava. “Standing on the edge of the great pit Halemaumau, the visitor beholds the wonderful burning lake below him dancing, boiling and flaring like a huge blast furnace crucible while fire fountains leap from its face tossing molten basalt into the air.” Tourists at top of volcano, steam rising. “Kilauea is an example of an exploded volcano that continues active and for this reason it is called ‘safe.’ The explosions which broke the mountain down occurred years ago, leaving the walls of the crater so weak that the lava never rises above the top, but breaks through, often flowing quietly to the sea.” Views of bubbling lava. “A peculiar phenomenon of the lake is an island in its midst which steadfastly resists the action of the red hot lava, while to add to the picturesqueness of the scene, molten lava runs through a natural bridge.” Island, boiling lava. “The flow of the lava varies, often attaining a speed of 2½ miles per hour.” Lava flowing - boiling lava in crater. “The heat is often so intense that it is necessary to shield the face to prevent the skin from blistering, while the roar of the fiery furnaces is likened to the roar of a storm on a rock bound coast.” Panoramic views of crater, boiling lava. “As you gaze spell-bound at this wonderful spectacle, you wonder why some energetic picture man has not staged here ‘Dante’s Inferno’ for where could a better setting be found.” A couple looking down into the crater. “As evening advances the fiery spectacle increases in brilliancy. The churning seething mass takes on more lurid hues, while when darkness falls the lake becomes as molten gold -- tourists at the brink waiting for darkness.” Many tourists on edge of the crater - night scenes of boiling lava. [1917]
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