Stop 3 Devils Throat Pit CraterDevils Throat is a vertically sided pit crater measuring 150 feet wide by 165 feet deep (refer to Figure 12). This pit crater formed back in 1912 when an underground magma chamber emptied causing the surface to collapse. When volcanologist Thomas Jaggar first saw the crater it was only 20 feet in diameter but measured 250 feet deep! Years of erosion have since collapsed the crater walls which created a shallower but much wider pit crater. Craters like Devils Throat are usually found along rift zones and result from either the drainage of subterranean magma chambers or the subsequent eruptions of them. Formation of this type of crater occurs relatively quickly, sometimes forming in only a few seconds. Due to the obvious danger of an unfenced pit crater of this enormity, many tourist brochures and books about Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park emit Devils Throat from their “must see locations.” Although dangerous, Devils Throat is an amazing volcanic feature that one must see if visiting the park. Devils Throat is located approximately 2.2 miles down the Chain of Crater Road on the left just past Hilina Pali Road (refer to Figure 2).
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Sources
2008. “Devils Throat In Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.” Instant Hawaii. Retrieved November 15 2011 (http://www.instanthawaii.com/cgi-bin/hawaii?Hikes.devils).
Banner photo by Sandy Thao
Banner photo by Sandy Thao