The lava lake in January 2011

The lava lake in January 2011
Conjunction of Venus and the moon at dawn of 30 Jan. Red plume from the lava lake at left.
The lava lake in January 2011
On the rim of the new pit about 15m deep, with the fountaining lava lake about 50m wide.
The lava lake in January 2011
Vertical view down to the lake from the east rim. A visitor takes the risk to stand on the unstable south rim.
The lava lake in January 2011
Suddenly strong convection in the lake exposes fresh magma from below along the incadescent cracks.
The lava lake in January 2011
View of the lake from the west rim. Note the cracks on the south rim at right, a worrisome sight!
The lava lake in January 2011
Incandescent gas melts new fissures in the pit walls on the lower right from the photographer on the east rim.
The lava lake in January 2011
Tourists spend an unforgettable night on the safer west rim (view from the camp on the caldera rim).
The lava lake in January 2011
At dawn of 31 Jan, the Moon has moved halfway between Venus (top) and the horizon.
The lava lake in January 2011
The strong fountain below the south rim has stopped its activity, while the cracks emit hot blue gas.
The lava lake in January 2011
Thorsten Bockel (white T-shirt) is filming the strong fountains below the pit's south rim.
The lava lake in January 2011
Martin Rietze uses a gas-mask as protection against the terribly hot gas coming from the lake.
The lava lake in January 2011
Panorama over the other larger (north) pit, where the hornito shows an incandescent vent.
The lava lake in January 2011
Lava overflows of November 2010 from the new pit (center right) have completely filled the former (and larger) south pit.
The lava lake in January 2011
Downwind from the lava lake, a dense carpet of fair Pele's hair covers the silvery fresh pahoehoe lava.
The lava lake in January 2011
Panorama of the lava overflows of November 2010 seen from the west rim of Erta Ale's caldera.
The lava lake in January 2011
Panorama of the new pit and of the lava overflows from the hornito just south of the lava lake.
Photos by Marco Fulle, taken with 10.5mm and 16mm fisheye lenses, and 135mm on digital single lens reflex camera.