A lava tube is created when a channel of lava begins to cool along its edges. These harden, and lave begins to stick to its edges, making the lava "curb" begin to reach across the channel to the other side (which is doing the same thing). Eventually, the cooled lava can reach all the way across, making a thin crust. Sealing off the top, a wide, flat tube is formed, retaining the heat, so that the lava flows freely through the tube. It is so hot in the tube that the lava actually begins to melt the rock beneath it, eventually creating a more rounded tube.
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