The Biggest Volcano in the Solar System

SciShow Space explains how Earth’s volcanoes have nothing on the Martian ones.

Lava Versus Snow

New Scientist shows footage of an awesome lava flow at Tolbachik in Russia.

900 Miles: A Week On Hawaii’s Big Island

Hey, folks. I’m baaaaack.

*Crickets chirping*

…Ahem. If you recall, I recently left for a week-long trip to the Big Island of Hawaii. As with all of my travels, I focused on exploration and seeing new things. This was my first time on the Big Island, so there was a lot of ground to cover. And while I’m going cover it all via writing and photography (with a new DSLR!) soon, I thought I’d outline my epic adventure using a list format from this week’s writing challenge. To give you an idea of the scale and length of the journey (totaling nearly 900 miles, to the amazement/horror of the rental car people) here’s a map of the Big Island:

Here’s a list in chronological order of where I went. See if you can chart my routes:

Friday, 11/28/2014:

• Kailua-Kona, Hawaii. (The location of my hotel and the starting and end points of all my daily trips until the last day).

Saturday, 11/29/2014:

• Hilo Farmer’s Market
• Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
• Steaming Bluff
• Kilauea
• Jaggar Museum & Overlook/ USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory
• Thurston Lava Tube
• Chain Of Craters Road
• Devastation Trail

Sunday, 11/30/2014

• La’aloa Bay
• Kahalu’u Beach Park
• Ali’i Drive

Monday, 12/01/2014

• Kawaihae Harbor
• Hawi
• Pololu Valley & Awini Trail
• Kohala Highlands
• Waipio Valley
• Honokohau Harbor

Tuesday, 12/02/2014

• Greenwell Farms
• Kealakekua Bay
• Pu’uhonua O Honaunau National Park
• St. Benedict’s Painted Church
• Royal Kona Luau

Wednesday, 12/03/2014

• Botanical World Adventures Rainforest Trail
• Umauma River
• Akaka Falls State Park
• Hilo Farmer’s Market
• Hilo Airport Commuter Terminal
• Lava Tree State Park
• Pahoa
• Rainbow Falls

Thursday, 12/04/2014

• Honaunau Bay
• Paleaku Gardens Peace Sanctuary
• Ho’okena Beach Park

Friday, 12/05/2014

• Kahalu’u Beach Park
• Kona International Airport

Beaches, harbors, volcanos, lava tubes, rainforests, towns, nature trails, waterfalls, gardens, farms, tide pools…I may have overdone it. Then again, I’m already compiling a list of all things I’ll do the next time I go!