Popular science at its best: a spectacular window into both the volcanic past and the fiery future astronomers predict for the solar system.

All the elements that form our planet were originally forged in cosmic furnaces: all the food we eat and thus our bodies themselves recycle molecules and atoms that once knew volcanic fire.

The most active—and most visited—volcano on earth is Kilauea in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, seen by three million people every year. With its counterpart Piton de la Fournaise, on the French island of La Réunion in the Indian Ocean, it is characterized by extraordinary lava flows that travel great distances in a spectacular landscape. Together they form the focus of this dazzling photographic essay by two renowned photographers.

The photographs are all reproduced as thumbnails at the end of the book, with caption commentaries, and the reference material includes a glossary of terms. 100+ color photographs.

G. Brad Lewis's photos of volcanoes have been widely published, including on the covers of Life and Geo. Paul-Edouard Bernard de Lajartre lives on Réunion, where he has been documenting the lava flows of the Piton de la Fournaise for many years. The foreword is by Jim Kauahikaua, scientist in charge of the Hawaii Volcanological Observatory, and Gora Patel, Director General of the French RFO SAT TV network. There is also an introduction by Jack Lockwood, a leading volcanologist and a consultant to the movie Dante's Peak, and Alain Gerente, a French documentary filmmaker.

Publisher: Thames & Hudson
Distributor: W. W. Norton
Publication Date: 10-29-2007
Pages: 144
Measurements: 10in X 12in