Green Lake (Hawaii)

Green Lake, photographed in the 1890s
Crater with Green Lake inside, photographed in 2017
Aerial photograph of lava flows evaporating Green Lake on June 2, 2018

Green Lake (Hawaiian: Ka Wai o Pele)[1] was a freshwater lake in the Puʻu Kapoho crater on the island of Hawaii. It was the largest freshwater lake in the Hawaiian Islands and besides Lake Waiau one of two freshwater lakes on the Big Island.

The lake was formed in the early 17th century in the Green Mountain crater, with a maximum depth of less than 25 feet. Hawaiian myths state that the lake was the first place visited by Pele, the volcano deity.[2] The lake was a popular swimming spot for locals and tourists.[3] The area surrounding Green Lake was home to kukui nut trees, guava trees, and banana trees.[4]

On June 2, 2018, the lake was destroyed when lava flows from Kīlauea's lower Puna eruption boiled it away and completely filled the entire basin.[5][6]

References

  1. ↑ Nicole Lautze, Donald Thomas, Nicholas Hinz, Garrett Apuzen-Ito, Neil Frazer, David Waller: Play fairway analysis of geothermal resources across the State of Hawaii: 1. Geological, geophysical, and geochemical datasets, in: Geothermics (article in press), URL https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.02.001, p. 10
  2. ↑ Ellis, William (1831). Polynesian Researches, Volume 4. London: Fisher, Son, & Jackson. p. 299. OCLC 935366901. Retrieved June 5, 2018 – via Google Books.
  3. ↑ Morris, Chris (June 5, 2018). "Lava Evaporates Hawaii's Largest Lake". Fortune. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Green Lake: A 400-year-old lake in Kapoho, Hawaii". Only in Hawaii. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  5. ↑ Peterkin, Olivia (June 4, 2018). "Into thin air: Lava flows claim Hawaii's largest lake in a matter of hours". Hawaii News Now. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  6. ↑ Comparison of satellite images on February 19 and August 6, 2018 (Planet Labs Inc.)

Coordinates: 19°30′08″N 154°50′22″W / 19.502321°N 154.839397°W / 19.502321; -154.839397

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