(USGS photo) An April 27 look at the lava lake level, measured at 12.5 m (41 ft) below the vent rim, the highest level the lake reached that month.

(BIVN) – The summit eruption at Kīlauea Volcano reached the nine years mark on March 19, 2017.

In the time since the new volcanic vent opened in 2008, the Halema‘uma‘u Crater vent has gotten larger, and the lava lake level has risen, also. These days, spattering on the lake surface sometimes visible from the Jaggar Museum Observation Deck.

The gaping Halema‘uma‘u Crater is now roughly 195 m by 255 m – or about 640 x 840 ft. in size – according to the USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

At a recent After Dark In The Park talk story, filmed by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, geologist Matt Patrick gave some perspective to the size of the crater. Its as big as Aloha Stadium, for starters. How does it compare to the U.S. Capitol? Or the Pentagon?