Lava Lagoon (Donkey Kong Land 2)

Lava Lagoon is the eighth level of Donkey Kong Land 2 and the third area in Krem Cauldron.

The level takes place in a crashed galleon's hold, which is flooded by red-hot boiling water in which the Kongs cannot swim safely. Luckily, Clapper the Seal returns from the Donkey Kong Country series to cool down the water once more for the heroes. To do so, he must be jumped on as a signal to breath cold air in the water. While the liquid is safe to plunge into, the Kongs must hurry up to the surface, because the water comes back to its initial state. However, enemies like Flotsams, Puftups, Klomps, and Lockjaws are able to survive in the hot water and they are still a threat for the heroes.

This level is also the first one in the game to feature two Animal Buddies, which are Clapper and Enguarde.

Level Layout
The Kongs begin the level under a DK Barrel on a pile of large crates and barrels. A Clapper is ahead of here with a pool of water next to it, which contains a pair of Flotsams that are surrounded by bananas. The heroes also can find a Banana Bunch in a small alcove as they swim through the underwater area. After they pass the Flotsams, they makes their way upwards to the surface of another part of the water, where they can find more large crates that they can walk on. The letter K is located on the other side of the water to the left of here, and some crates are in front of it that the duo can jump through. If they continue east from here, they come past a Klomp and a Clapper, who can cool down the nearby pool of water. As they swim through this water, they head down into a wide room with a Lockjaw and a Flotsam in it. An Animal Barrel that contains Enguarde is southwest of here, and if the primates continue after passing the barrel, they come into an area full of Lockjaws. The letter O is below the enemies in a small alcove. After they travel to the rightmost part of the underwater area, they must head upwards past more Lockjaws to find a No Animal Sign that makes Enguarde disappear when crossed.

A large, flat pile of crates follows the sign, and it holds a Clapper that can cool down another pool of water located nearby. On the other side of the water's surface here, the Kongs can find a Banana Coin floating high in the air. As they swim through the underwater area, they head down through a wide passage with a pair of Puftups in it. After they pass the enemies, they discover another Animal Barrel that contains Enguarde and a group of bananas that form an arrow pointing to the right. There are two passages to the right of this arrow; the passage on the top leads to a Flotsam, while the other leads to a Puftup, another Flotsam, and a Banana Coin. Once the heroes reach the other side of the two passages, they can find a passage above them with a few Puftups in it. If they avoid these enemies and make their way the whole way up, they can find a No Animal Sign that makes Enguarde disappear when crossed and a pile of crates above the water that hold a Clapper. If the heroes pass the sign with Enguarde, they are also given a Banana Bunch as a prize. The nearby Clapper can be jumped on to cool down another water area, which contains more bananas and enemies. After the primates reach the bottom of the underwater section, they must travel east past some Flotsams and Puftups to progress. Soon, they can find a passage leading to the surface of the water. As they swim through the passage, they reach a lone Puftup and then a pile of large crates above the liquid that they can walk on. A Star Barrel and a DK Barrel are above the crates.

The Kongs can find a Clapper and more hot liquid ahead of here. After the seal cools down the water, they can safely swim through it. As they begin swimming through the water, they make their way down a long, straight, passage with some bananas around it. Eventually, they reach a passage leading to the west, which contains some Flotsams and a Lockjaw. A small area is to the north of the Lockjaw, and it contains a Puftup and the letter N. If the primates continue to the right from where where this area is located, they reach a group of bananas that form the shape of an arrow pointing upwards. If they head to the east from here, they come past a Lockjaw and a Banana Bunch, which is located under a passage with a DK Coin in it. If the Kongs instead follow the arrow, they make their way up through another long, straight passage with bananas around it. At the top of the area, they can find the surface of the water with some crates surrounding it. The group of crates to the left of here lead to a Bonus Barrel, while the crates to the right of the water take the two friends to a ledge with another Clapper on it.

If they swim through the water ahead of the seal after cooling it down, they make their way down into another passage that leads to the east. As they swim through here, they reach some Flotsams and a Puftup, along with a Banana Bunch in a small alcove. Another passage is to the north of the Banana Bunch, and the heroes come up to a Puftup as they swim through it. Shortly after dodging this foe, they approach a pile of crates that they can walk on to progress over the water. A DK Barrel and a Klomp are along these crates, as well as a Clapper, who can cool down another section of water. As the duo swims through here, they come towards a Lockjaw and a Flotsam, who both guard an Animal Barrel with Enguarde in it. A Banana Coin is to the left of this barrel in the corner of the area next to a dead end. A thin passage that the heroes must swim through to progress is near Enguarde's Animal Barrel, and once they swim through it, they enter a large room that contains a group of bananas that form the shape of an arrow pointing to the right. To the left of this arrow, they can find a few Lockjaws and a Banana Coin, along with a small alcove that contains the letter G. If the primates head to the right of the arrow, where it directs them to, they enter a wide passage leading upwards. As they journey through the passage, they reach a Puftup, a Flotsam, and a Banana Bunch, which is placed in a corner. After they pass the two enemies, they reach a No Animal Sign that makes Enguarde disappear when crossed. Some crates are above the surface of the water near here, and they hold a spring. If they jump on this spring, they complete the level successfully.

K-O-N-G Letters

 * K: At the surface of the end of the first area of water, the heroes should jump upwards against a wall of crates. They are able to jump through one of the crates to reach an area that contains the letter K.
 * O: After the heroes pass Enguarde's Animal Barrel in the second pool of water, the heroes should continue downwards to find the letter O in an alcove.
 * N: When the heroes reach the first pool of water from the Star Barrel, they must head to the bottom of the area and then slightly to the right of find another passage leading to the north. The letter N and a Puftup are in this passage.
 * G: As the heroes make their way through the third passage of water from the Star Barrel, they reach a group of bananas that form an arrow pointing to the right. Instead of following it, they should head left to find an alcove with the letter G in it.

Bonus Levels

 * Near the end of the third pool of water, the Kongs should see a Puftup next to a crate. If they swim behind the foe, they suddenly appear inside of a Bonus Barrel, which sends them into a Bonus Level, where they must travel through an underwater maze between many large crates and barrels. If they manage to grab the Kremkoin hidden in the northeast part of the maze within 20 seconds, they complete the bonus successfully.
 * The Kongs should travel to the left immediately after exiting the first pool of water from the Star Barrel to find a Bonus Barrel against the wall. The barrel can send them to a Bonus Level, where they must carefully swim through an underwater area while watching out for Flotsams. If they reach the end of the area before the time limit of 20 seconds runs out, or before they are attacked by an enemy, they can find a Kremkoin to grab within the remaining time.

DK Coin

 * To find the DK Coin, the group must first swim through the first pool of water from the Star Barrel. They should eventually reach a group of bananas in the formation of an arrow pointing up. Instead of following the arrow, they should continue east and then go north through a passage to find the hidden DK Coin.