Kilauea Crater, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii
Volcanoes in Hawaii
In terms of geographical location Hawaii is truly unique. As the only state in the USA, built entirely of volcanic rocks, islands are dotted with spectacular volcanoes that began to erupt before 70 million years. Due to its volcanic origin, we can say that Hawaii is a series of massive volcanoes, whose base is located thousands of feet below the ocean floor. What you see above the water level is only a small fraction of the gigantic volcanic topography that represent Hawaii.
Each of Hawaii is evidence that volcanoes create islands, millions of years ago erupted repeatedly to push the island above water level. Although there are many volcanoes in the water surface, we will examine only those that formed the volcanic chain, Hawaii created in their present form.
Volcano on the Big Island
Mauna LoaWith its 60 miles long and 30 miles wide, Mauna Loa marked a staggering 85% of the total area of the island of Hawaii. Mauna Loa is Hawaiian name meaning "Long Mountain" and its highest point is 13,681 feet above sea level. As one of the highest mountains in the world, Mauna Loa is among the most active volcanoes today. Because of its height, the Mauna Loa snow during the winter months.
The first eruption of the volcano, recorded by humans was in 1843 and 33 after the eruption were recorded afterwards. For Mauna Loa last erupted was in March-April 1984 and the volcano remains under constant surveillance by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, as it is expected to erupt in the near future.
Mauna Loa volcano is the thyroid, which means that there is a slightly sloping sides formed by a volcanic eruption and pour a lot of liquid lava. An interesting fact about volcanoes thyroid is that they can form on other planets. For example, the largest mountain on the planet found in solar system is Olympus Mons, located on Mars.
Eruption in progress
Koha
Koha is more than 500,000 years, making it the ancient volcanoes on land. Koha is a thyroid volcano that rises 5480 feet above sea level and covers 5.8% of the territory on the island of Hawaii. Scientists believe that volcanic activity has started to fade around 300,000 years, when the volcano was 2 times wider than it is now and is now inactive volcano. The last time this volcano erupted, about 120,000 years.
While Koha continued to decrease its activity, the younger volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa covered the southern countries. This reason makes it difficult determining the exact shape and size of these three volcanoes.
Loihi
As the youngest volcano of the Hawaiian volcanic chain, Loihi remains of 1,000 meters below sea level, type of underwater volcano. This underwater mountain rises 3,000 feet above ocean level from the southeastern coast of the island of Hawaii. Loihi name means "long" and is therefore an elongated shape.
Currently, the volcano Loihi is the list of active volcanoes, with Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Once asleep, Loihi again becoming an active volcano with a large eruption in 1996. Since then Loihi is active only at intervals.
Crater to Sea
Kilauea As one of the most active volcano, Kilauea is also the youngest. Located in the southeast of the island of Hawaii, Kilauea advocating one side of the active volcano Mauna Loa. Kilauea is studied hard and was under constant surveillance because of the continuous flowing of lava on the slopes.
The name "Kilauea" means "erupt" or "widespread", which refers to the constant eruptions that began in 1983. Kilauea volcano occupies a central place in Hawaiian mythology, many people believe it is the home of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. Pele may be kind and gracious, if appease or be angry if irreverence in the form of burning volcanic activity.
Mauna Kea
Thyroid volcano Mauna Kea rises 13,784 feet above sea level and extends more 15,000 feet below sea level. That's about 29,000 feet altitude, which he ranks first on the highest mountain and volcano on Earth! "Mauna Kea" means "White Mountain" in Hawaiian language and this particular volcano is slightly different from its neighbors Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Mauna Kea is now dormant volcano. For the last eruption was 4500 years ago. There are small eruptions, steep slopes, but there is no peak in the form of boiler and chemical ingredients vary in the lava. Mauna Kea is also unique because the volcano is home to the glacial deposits, formed thousands of years ago. Few people realize that there are glaciers in Hawaii. Because of its height, the peak of Mauna Kea buries snow in winter.
Pahoehoe lava (Hawaii)
Mahukona
Mahukona volcano is underwater volcano, located northwest of the island of Hawaii. Over water, the highest point is located 800 feet under water but Mahukona reaches 3600 feet. The name "Mahukona" means "steam coming from the leeward" in Hawaiian language.
Hualalai
Hualalai differs in that it is the third youngest and third most active volcano in the history of the Island (after Mauna Loa and Kaliauea). Kailua-Kona town, birthplace of the infamous Kona Coffee is built on the southwest slope of Hualalai. This volcano is named after the wife of Hawaii Loa, Hawaiian navigator.
Hulalay is known that in the past has been quite active. Keahole Airport was built on a long-frozen lava flow, of Hulalay. A series of earthquakes attest to the threat posed by Hualalai on Hawaii, as it may erupt again in the future.
Volcano on Maui.
The two volcanoes that formed in practice on Maui are East and West Maui.
East Maui Volcano
Also known as Haleakala and Kilauea with the only volcano that erupted after the end of the 18th century. As the third largest volcano in the Islands, Haleakala has been very active in the past, as 10 eruptions in the last 10,000 years, the last eruption was in 1790. It may seem small but in geology, it is considered very high activity. Therefore, many scientists believe that Haleakala volcano can erupt again.
Hawaiian term "Haleakala" literally means "House of the Sun" and the tip of the volcano occupies a major role in Hawaiian history and mythology. Crater of Haleakea is a preferred tourist destination.
Maui Volcano.
It is believed that the volcano was formed around 1.3 to 2 million years. Scientists estimate that the last time the volcano erupted was around 1 million years.This feature, the volcano is considered dormant and safe for the population of the island.
Volcanoes on the island of Molokai
Both volcanoes are covering West Molokai island, sometimes called Mauna Loa and Milokay East, including some known as Uaylau.
Volcano Moolokay West is the smaller of the two (above sea level) and East Molokai covers the eastern two-thirds of the island. Much of West Molokai volcano is below sea level and is trapped by frozen lava flows from volcanoes or other as a result of processes.
Dragon
Volcanoes of Oahu
Koolau volcano Uayanae up and Oahu. The tips of Uayanae are from western windward side and Koolau overlooks the eastern or leeward side.
Koolau
This is a basaltic volcano, which occupies about two-thirds of the island of Oahu.
Famous Diamond Head Crater, Hanauma Bay and Koko are volcanic crater sites, which attract thousands of tourists each year. Koolau volcano is a favorite attraction, because the lava is unique in that it contains in its composition a higher percentage of quartz than other volcanoes in Hawaii.
Uayanae
Uayanae volcano is higher and older than both. It is also much drier than Koolau, which keeps the coastal waters crystal clear due to lack of runoff.
Hawaii Volcanoes continue to erupt, leading to expansion of the area and change the landscape of the islands. Thanks to an otherwise devastating volcanic eruptions formed the earth, which perpetuates people's lives. Visit these exciting volcanoes and see for yourself how these beautiful islands have been and continue to take shape.
