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Kilauea lava flow creates possible black sand beach

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USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY

Geologists gather data near the vent feeding the lava flow to the ocean on the east flank of Puu Oo vent.

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USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY

This photo taken Friday shows the main ocean entry and lava accumulating at the base of the sea cliff. Black sand formed by the interaction of hot lava and cold seawater and the erosion of hte rocky cliff is also accumulating along the coastline.

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USGS / HAWAIIAN VOLCANO OBSERVATORY

A second ocean entry (far left side of the photo), to the west of the original spot where lava entered the ocean, was observed by geologists flying over the area Friday. Lava rubble is beginning to accumulate at the bottom of the sea cliff and a black sand beach is seen east of the ocean entry.

Photos released by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory show a second ocean entry point for lava coming from Puu Oo vent and what could be the beginnings of a lava delta and black sand beach.

Geologists flying over the Kamokuna ocean entry Friday noticed lava entering the ocean on the west margins of the flow. The front of the flow has widened to about 787 feet, with fingers of lava entering the ocean at various points.

The photos also show lava accumulating at the base of the cliff and a growing black sand beach, formed by the interaction of hot lava and cool seawater, as well as erosion of the rocky cliff.

Janet Babb, a spokeswoman for the observatory, said it’s too early to say if new land is actually forming or if the fresh lava is covering rocks beneath the cliff that were there before the ocean entry started.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park officials expect visitors to top 1,000 a day this weekend as people come to see the lava flow.

It’s possible to hike to the ocean entry on a gravel emergency access road, built with $5.1 million in county and federal disaster funds as an alternate route when the town of Pahoa was threatened by lava in 2014.

But the hike is long, at least 4 miles each way from either the national park or the county’s lava viewing and parking area on the Kalapana side of the flow.

Park rangers caution that the hike is not for everyone and people planning on walking to the flow should bring enough water, sturdy shoes and a flashlight if they are staying after dark.

Tour companies are also offering helicopter and boat trips to the ocean entry.

The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory notes that the area around the cliffs can be unstable and getting too close to the cliff exposes visitors to flying debris created by the explosive interaction between lava and water.

In addition, the steam created by the lava entering the ocean is acidic and contains fine volcanic particles that can irritate the skin, eyes and lungs.

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