23rd Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest The American Experience
Fire from the Heart of Kīlauea — Episode 36, November 2025

This photograph captures the breathtaking eruption of Kīlauea Volcano during Episode 36, taken on November 9, 2025, inside Halemaʻumaʻu Crater at Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park. Two powerful lava fountains dominate the scene — the north vent reaching nearly 750 feet (230 m) and the south vent soaring up to 1,200 feet (360 m). The molten glow lights up the volcanic plume, painting the sky in deep orange and crimson hues as rivers of lava spread across nearly 80 % of the crater floor. The image conveys both the raw energy and surreal beauty of Hawaiʻi’s living volcano — a reminder of the island’s ever-changing landscape shaped by fire, earth, and time.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 11.2025
Date Uploaded: 11.2025
Photo Location: None, United States of America
Camera: NIKON D7500
Copyright: © Bachir Badaoui