Volcanoes are so cool

After experiencing a volcano close up, or as close up as a normal person can get, last summer, volcanoes have interested me. Last summer we hiked down into Halema`uma`u crater on Mt Kilauea, and we also got an even closer view of it in a helicopter ride. It was pretty amazing.

Today I ran across some amazing pictures at The Big Picture of the Nyiragongo Crater in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. I don’t think of volcanoes when I think of Africa, especially in central Africa where this one is, but man these are some gorgeous pictures.

Thanks to Phil Plait for bringing these amazing pictures to my attention.