The Virtual Getaway: A Closer Look at Volcanoes

An active volcano is a dramatic sight. Volcanoes — hills or mountains in Earth's crust that form over fissures opening directly into the mantle — can hold vast lakes of molten lava in their craters. 

And when they erupt, they can eject lava flows and fountains, generate earthquakes and avalanches, or produce steam and ash plumes that may tower for miles overhead, offering an awe-inspiring glimpse of the dynamic processes at work deep inside our planet.

There are quite a few choices out there and The Virtual Getaway by Caribbean News Digital takes you to a couple of options that are quite amazing.

The first is a website called Digital Volcano, designed by creative agency Gin Lane and represents data gathered by a team of volcano experts with the support of the government of Nicaragua and General Electric.

The second option brought to you today is the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, which protects some of the most unique geological, biological, and cultural landscapes in the world. Extending from sea level to 13,677 feet, the park encompasses the summits of two of the world's most active volcanoes - Kīlauea and Mauna Loa.