The Lava Tube

When volcanoes erupt, sometimes lava tubes form. This occurs when lava flows away from the eruption. As the outside cools, the inside is still hot and continues to flow. If all of the lava drains out, an open tube remains. In some particular kinds of lava flows, especially low-viscosity ones, They occur more often, and they can be very dangerous. If the weight from above is too much, they might coillapse, and on Santa Cruz Island, cattle and turtles have been known to fall into a lava tube. If no one finds them, of course, they perish. We were able to walk through a lava tube on the Galapagos Ranch, and it was quite interesting. Because of the rain, it was quite wet inside, and one of the other lava tubes was flooded. Some say a cave is a cave, but each cave has its own uniqueness. I did not notice the stuffy smell that some caves have, and inside mosses and other plants were growing. I was glad for the opportunity to learn about and experience lava tubes, and the refreshingly cool air was quite the respite from the outdoor heat.