Mokolea Lava Pools – Kilauea, Hawaii - Atlas Obscura
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Mokolea Lava Pools

Kilauea, Hawaii

Submerged lava formations create incredible waterworks. 

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Reimar / Alamy Stock Photo
Reimar / Alamy Stock Photo
The tide pools are the rocks on the west section of the beach. Flinders (Atlas Obscura User)
Mia & Steve mesdagh on Flickr (Creative Commons)
Mia & Steve mesdagh on Flickr (Creative Commons)
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Of the many incredible geological formations in Hawai’i, the Mokolea Lava Pools on the island of Kauai stand out as one of the more active sights.

This partially-submerged lava ledge sits 20 feet above the sea. The incoming tidal waves are often twice that height, drowning the rocks before receding to reveal a series of roiling tidal pools. The largest and most photo-ready of these pools is roughly the size of a hot tub and fills with thrashing sea water before receding back with the tide. Sea life is often caught in the strong tides being shoved up through the pools and become briefly trapped. However the pools capture nothing so strongly as the attention of amateur photographers.   

geology
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