Green Lake (Hawaii)

Green Lake[1] (Hawaiian: Ka Wai o Pele)[2] was a freshwater crater lake in Puʻu Kapoho crater on the island of Hawaiʻi. With a surface area of 0.8 hectares (2.0 acres) and a maximum depth of 61 metres (200 ft),[3] it was the largest natural freshwater lake in the Hawaiian Islands,[4] and, along with Lake Waiau, was one of two freshwater lakes on Hawaiʻi Island.

Green Lake
Ka Wai o Pele
Black and white photograph of Green Lake
Green Lake, photographed in the 1890s
Location of Green Lake in Hawaii, US
Location of Green Lake in Hawaii, US
Green Lake
Location of Green Lake in Hawaii, US
Location of Green Lake in Hawaii, US
Green Lake
LocationHawaiʻi, United States
Coordinates19°30′08″N 154°50′22″W
TypeVolcanic crater lake
Basin countriesUnited States
Surface area0.5 ha (1.2 acres)
Max. depth61 m (200 ft)

Hawaiian myths state that the lake was the first place visited by Pele, the volcano deity.[5] The lake was a popular swimming spot for locals and tourists.[6] Extensive vegetation, mainly Hibiscus tiliaceus, overhung the lake, shading about twenty percent of the lake's surface.[4]

On June 2, 2018, the lake was destroyed when lava flowing from Kīlauea's lower Puna eruption boiled it away and completely filled the entire basin.[7][8]

  • Crater with Green Lake inside, photographed in 2017
    Crater with Green Lake inside, photographed in 2017
  • Ka Wai o Pele
    Ka Wai o Pele
  • Aerial photograph of lava flows evaporating Green Lake on June 2, 2018
    Aerial photograph of lava flows evaporating Green Lake on June 2, 2018

See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ka Wai o Pele.

References
  1. U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Green Lake
  2. 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
  3. https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/38346982/where-pele-first-visited-residents-react-to-the-loss-of-a-400-year-old-lake-due-to-lava/ (retrieved 2020-05-04)
  4. Maciolek, J.A. (April 30, 1982). "Lakes and Lake-like Waters of the Hawaiian Archipelago" (PDF). Occasional Papers of Bernice P. Bishop Museum. 25 (1): 7, 11. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  5. Ellis, William (1831). Polynesian Researches, Volume 4. London: Fisher, Son, & Jackson. p. 299. OCLC 935366901. Retrieved June 5, 2018 – via Internet Archive.
  6. Morris, Chris (June 5, 2018). "Lava Evaporates Hawaii's Largest Lake". Fortune. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  7. 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.
  8. Comparison of satellite images on February 19 and August 6, 2018 (Planet Labs Inc.)


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