When Lava Meets Water

   This rare display of natural chaos can only be seen this close from a helicopter. What happens when lava collides with water? Well, if it's a pahoehoe flow, the lava just slides into the water without much more than a small plume of steam. If it is an A`A flow, the lava fragments into small glassy shards which are swept up by the water currents and deposited as black sand beaches. Although there are many lava related disasters all over the world, rarely is someone ever injured or killed as a result. For the most part, lava travels much too slowly for anyone to get caught up in it. If you want to see a good example of what NOT to do near a river of lava then watch this video.