Geologists used snowshoes to cross Kilauea volcano after its eruption in Hawaii.

Field engineers from the US Geological Survey's Hawaiian Volcano Observatory visited monitoring stations downwind of the eruptive vents at the summit of Kilauea on July 10.

Officials were required to wear the specialised winter footwear as they navigated the terrain. The wide footprint of the shoes allowed them to stay atop the frothy pumice rather than sinking into it.

This eruption, which began on December 23 of the previous year, follows a pattern of brief, explosive episodes—each lasting around 13 hours, separated by pauses ranging from one day to nearly two weeks.

Kilauea is the world's most active volcanic mass and is the central feature of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Its caldera is nearly three miles long and two miles wide, with an area of more than four square miles.