Green Lake ( haw, Ka Wai o Pele) was a freshwater

crater lake Crater Lake (Klamath language, Klamath: ''Giiwas'') is a volcanic crater lake in south-central Oregon in the western United States. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The ...

in Puʻu Kapoho crater on the island of

Hawaiʻi Hawaii ( ; haw, Hawaii or ) is a state in the Western United States, located in the Pacific Ocean about from the U.S. mainland. It is the only U.S. state outside North America, the only state that is an archipelago, and the only state ...

. With a surface area of and a maximum depth of , it was the largest natural freshwater lake in the

Hawaiian Islands The Hawaiian Islands ( haw, Nā Mokupuni o Hawai‘i) are an archipelago of eight major islands, several atolls, and numerous smaller islets in the North Pacific Ocean, extending some from the island of Hawaii in the south to northernmost Kur ...

, and, along with

Lake Waiau Lake Waiau is a high-elevation lake located at above sea level on Mauna Kea, on the island of Hawaiʻi. It is arguably one of the highest lakes in the United States. After the evaporation of Ka Wai o Pele in 2018 and the short-lived lake in Hal ...

, was one of two freshwater lakes on Hawaiʻi Island. Hawaiian myths state that the lake was the first place visited by Pele, the volcano deity. The lake was a popular swimming spot for locals and tourists. Extensive vegetation, mainly ''

Hibiscus tiliaceus ''Hibiscus tiliaceus'', commonly known as the sea hibiscus or coast cottonwood, is a species of flowering tree in the mallow family, Malvaceae, with a pantropical distribution along coastlines. It has also been introduced to Florida and New Zea ...

'', overhung the lake, shading about twenty percent of the lake's surface. On June 2, 2018, the lake was destroyed when

lava Lava is molten or partially molten rock (magma) that has been expelled from the interior of a terrestrial planet (such as Earth) or a moon onto its surface. Lava may be erupted at a volcano or through a fracture in the crust, on land or un ...

flowing from

Kīlauea Kīlauea ( , ) is an active shield volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. Located along the southeastern shore of the Big Island of Hawaii, the volcano is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and emerged above sea level about 100,000 years ago. Hi ...

's lower Puna eruption boiled it away and completely filled the entire basin.Comparison of satellite images on February 19 and August 6, 2018
(Planet Labs Inc.) Ka wai a Pele - panoramio.jpg, Crater with Green Lake inside, photographed in 2017 Ka Wai o Pele n008724a.png, Ka Wai o Pele Lava flowing into Green Lake, Kapoho, Hawaii.jpg, Aerial photograph of lava flows evaporating Green Lake on June 2, 2018

References

External links

* Peter T Young:
Ka Wai O Pele
' Lakes of Hawaii Bodies of water of Hawaii (island) Former lakes of the United States Kīlauea {{Hawaii-geo-stub

See also

References

External links