Hawaiian volcanoes national park, Hawaiian volcanoes. Kilauea Volcano in the Hawaiian Islands: description, interesting facts

The surface of these islands is literally dotted with mounds of craters of extinct volcanoes. Falling to the ground and quickly cooling down, the lava took the bizarre form of long jets resembling glassy human hair, which the Hawaiians from ancient times called Strands of Pele, the goddess of volcanoes. For thousands of years, waves and wind have brought here spores and seeds of plants, and on the fertile volcanic soil they gave abundant shoots. So this strange, bizarre and defiantly beautiful world arose - Hawaii.

Volcanoes of the island of Hawaii

Hawaii is one of the Hawaiian Islands that are part of Polynesia. The Hawaiian archipelago is located in the middle Pacific Ocean and consists of eight major islands, 124 small islets, reefs and shoals. In addition, the Hawaiian Islands are the fiftieth state of the United States of America, and of extraordinary beauty.

Islands rise from the depths of the ocean to the very skies. So, for example, the top of Mauna Kea reaches a height of 4178 m. In other words, today Hawaii, like other pacific islands, represent the tops of submerged volcanoes. Another natural attraction of Hawaii is located on the island of Maui - in the area of \u200b\u200bthe extinct Haleakala volcano, it is famous for its amazing landscapes.

The island of Hawaii is the largest and youngest in the archipelago, and also the most extreme: it is located at the southern tip of the so-called Hawaiian chain. Moreover, thanks to the constant accumulation of hardening lava on the shores, the island is gaining in size day by day. Hawaii is located directly above one of the primary "hot spots" of the Pacific Plate. The lava sloshing out of the Kilauea volcano flows down to the ocean, burning everything in its path: trees, farmlands, and, cooling from contact with sea water, forms new soil layers.

However, Kilauea is not an ordinary volcano: it is a huge mountain, the top of which forms a crater, or caldera. Red-hot lava flows down the slopes of the mountain. However, it does not come to the surface from a vent, as in ordinary volcanoes, but in a much simpler way - from a cone-shaped cleft in the side of Kilauea, called Pu-Oo. Lava from Kilauea, having overcome the 11-kilometer path along the channel of the volcano, splashes out of Pu-Oo and flows further to the ocean.

The Kilauea volcano has continued to erupt across Pu-Oo since January 3, 1983, thus exhibiting the longest eruption ever recorded in the Hawaiian Islands. And there is no end in sight yet. Remarkably, by 1995, as a result, 202.5 hectares of additional island surface were added, and the daily volume of erupted lava is about 480 thousand cubic meters.

Amazing scenery of the island of Hawaii

Volcanoes significantly affect the climate on the island of Hawaii. Thus, in the east, humid and foggy weather prevails, as a result of which this region abounds in tropical vegetation, rivers and waterfalls; there are also lush orchid plantations. On the other hand, the west coast is mountainous and sun-baked. Stretching along it sandy beaches, and the slopes of ancient volcanoes are covered with coffee plantations.

Extinct volcanoes have long become an integral part of the landscape of the island of Hawaii. And over all this splendor reigns another majestic volcano Mauna Kea. Other amazing volcanoes, previously considered by us, are located in Ethiopia.

To protect and protect this unique collection of volcanoes, as well as rare plant and animal species, the Congress of the United States decided in 1916 to establish on the island of Hawaii national park Hawaiian volcanoes (Hawaii-Volkeynos), included in. Every year it is visited by about two and a half million tourists who want to see firsthand what the forces that created the Earth as we know it are capable of. That is why the Hawaiian volcanoes are one of the most impressive wonders of nature and amazing natural.

The park contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world - Mauna Loa (4,170 m high) and Kilauea. Volcanic eruptions create an ever-changing landscape, lava flows form amazing geological formations. The park is a habitat for rare bird species; unique forests of giant ferns grow here.

The Hawaiian Islands are crowned with an underwater volcanic ridge and are the highest on earth active volcanoes. Volcanic activity on the largest island of the archipelago, the island of Hawaii, continues to this day. This is where the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is located.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes is a US national park established in 1916 on the island of Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Kilauela Volcano, the main volcano of the park, is traditionally considered the sacred home of the volcano goddess Pele. Hawaiians used to visit the crater to bring gifts to the goddess. The first white people climbed that volcano only in 1823, they were the English missionary William Ellis and the American Asa Thurston. Here is what Ellis later wrote about the caldera of the volcano: “A sublime and even terrifying performance appeared before us. We stopped in awe. the abyss that lies below us." The Kilauela caldera is like a lake of boiling fiery liquid with an area of 4.5 square kilometers and a depth of over 230 meters. Kilauela is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. He has been unable to calm down since 1983. Thomas Jagger set up a museum on the edge of that caldera. Exhibits are everything related to volcanoes - scientific equipment, clothing used by volcanologists, and so on. Some windows of the museum offer a wonderful view of the Calauela caldera and the Galemaumau crater. The museum bears the name of Jagger, who was also the first director of the Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory, adjacent to the museum. But for tourists, the entrance to the observatory is closed. In the park, you can see the results of hundreds of thousands of years of volcanic activity. Which formed both the islands themselves and their ecological system. The park covers all heights - from sea level to the top of the island - Mauna Loa volcano (4169). And the Kilauea volcano, one of the most active, gives scientists information about the birth of the Hawaiian Islands and evokes thoughts about the first volcanic landscapes. The park includes 1348 square kilometers.

Volcano Park, founded in 1916, is located in the southeast big island. The area of the park is 1348 sq. km. Here you can see the Hawaiian jungle with giant ferns, unique volcanic formations, smoking craters.

On the territory of the Park there is a volcanological museum, where films are shown daily free of charge. The main attraction of the park is the Kilauea Caldera volcano with its steaming cracks, sulfuric fumes and periodic eruptions. Its two neighbors, the less active Mauna Loa volcano and the dormant Mauna Kea volcano, rise to about 4200m. above sea level, while their foundation rests on the ocean floor, which is about 4800m. Mauna Kea is the most high mountain of the world, if measured from the foot of the ocean floor.

The unique landscape of the park is formed by the activity of volcanoes. Travelers have a unique opportunity to see both dormant volcanoes, the slopes of which are already covered with tropical forests, and active, smoking craters. The solidified dark volcanic lava slides into the ocean in a huge black river, blocking roads, and forms a bizarre coastline. Where lava enters the ocean, steam rises in the air and arches form. The singularity of the landscape and its emptiness creates a feeling as if you were on the edge of the earth.

national park The Hawaiian Volcanoes are famous for their volcanic activity. Here you can watch how landscapes and landscapes change literally before your eyes, thanks to the Kilauea volcano, one of the most active volcanoes on the planet
The park is a habitat for rare bird species; unique forests of giant ferns grow here.

The Hawaiian Islands are crowned with an underwater volcanic ridge and are the highest active volcanoes on earth. Volcanic activity on the largest island of the archipelago, the island of Hawaii, continues to this day. This is where the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is located.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes is a US national park established in 1916 on the island of Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands.

Volcano Park, founded in 1916, is located in the southeast of the Big Island. The area of the park is 1348 sq. km. Here you can see the Hawaiian jungle with giant ferns, unique volcanic formations, smoking craters.

On the territory of the Park there is a volcanological museum, where films are shown daily free of charge. The main attraction of the park is the Kilauea Caldera volcano with its steaming cracks, sulfuric fumes and periodic eruptions. Its two neighbors, the less active Mauna Loa volcano and the dormant Mauna Kea volcano, rise to about 4200m. above sea level, while their foundation rests on the ocean floor, which is about 4800m. Mauna Kea is the tallest mountain in the world when measured from its base on the ocean floor.

The unique landscape of the park is formed by the activity of volcanoes. Travelers have a unique opportunity to see both dormant volcanoes, the slopes of which are already covered with tropical forests, and active, smoking craters. Solidified dark volcanic lava slides into the ocean like a huge black river, blocking roads and forming a bizarre coastline. Where lava enters the ocean, steam rises in the air and arches form. The singularity of the landscape and its emptiness creates a feeling as if you were on the edge of the earth.

Because of his geographical location The Hawaiian Islands are truly unique and inimitable. As the only US state entirely on volcanic rock, Hawaii is replete with spectacular volcanoes that are over 70 million years old. It can even be argued that all of Hawaii is just a chain of huge volcanoes with a base deep in the ocean. And what can be seen above the water is only a small part of them. Each island of Hawaii is living proof that the volcanoes that formed them erupted many times before the moment when their top was above sea level. Although there are many underwater volcanoes near Hawaii, in this section we will try to describe in detail only those that formed the chain of the Hawaiian Islands.

Volcanoes of the Big Island

mauna loa

Mauna Loa, 96 km long and 48 km wide, occupies an impressive 85% of the total land area of the islands. In Hawaiian, Mauna Loa means " long mountain"- a volcano, whose 4,117 m are above the surface of the ocean. Being one of the most high mountains in the world, Mauna Loa is also the most active volcano in the world. Snow forms on top of the volcano in winter.

The first volcanic eruption occurred in 1843, followed by 33 more. The last eruption of Mauna Loa occurred in March-April 1984. Scientists are constantly monitoring the activity of the volcano, as eruptions are expected in the near future.

Mauna Loa is a shield volcano, which means that the volcano slowly "grew" thanks to lava layers. Interestingly, these types of volcanoes form even on other planets. For example, it was in this way that the largest mountain in the entire solar system, Olympus Volcano on Mars, was formed.

The age of this volcano is more than 500,000 years, it is the oldest volcano located on land. Kohala is a shield volcano with a height of 1,670 m, occupying 5.8% of the island's surface. Scientists have calculated that the activity of the volcano began to fade 300,000 years ago, when the volcano was twice as wide as it is now. Kohala is currently completely inactive. As the researchers suggest, its last eruption occurred 120,000 years ago.

While the Kohala volcano was gradually dying out, the eruptions of the younger and more active volcanoes Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa changed its southern slope. It is for this reason that it is very difficult to determine the exact shape of the mountain and its size at that time.

Loihi Volcano, being the youngest volcano in the volcanic chain of Hawaii, is located 1,000 m below the water level and is an underwater volcano. Loihi, 3,000 m high, is located off the southeast coast of the Big Island. The name "Loihi" can be translated as "long".

Not far from Loiha are Mauna Loa and Kilauea. This volcano was once dormant, but it woke up with a long eruption in 1996. Since this year, the volcano has been erupting from time to time.

Kilauea Volcano is quite young, but this does not prevent it from being one of the most active volcanoes on Earth. Kilauea is located in the southeastern part of the Big Island, on a slope active volcano Mauna Loa. The volcano is constantly under scientific observation.

The name Kilauea means "eruption" or "expansion", which reflects its nature: the volcano has been constantly erupting since 1983. The Kilauea volcano occupies special place in Hawaiian mythology. Many residents believe that the volcano is the home of Pele, the goddess of fire and volcanoes. If you make offerings and cajole her in every possible way, she can be calm and merciful, but if she is angered, she can cause an eruption.

mauna kea

The Mauna Kea shield volcano rises 4,205 meters above the surface of the water, and more than 6,000 meters below sea level: a total height of more than 10 km makes this volcano the highest mountain on Earth. Translated from the Hawaiian language, "Mauna Kea" means "white mountain", and this volcano differs significantly from its neighbors - the volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Mauna Kea is currently considered dormant as its last eruption occurred over 4,500 years ago. Minor eruptions occur periodically, but since the main crater has not been preserved, the chemical composition of the lava is always different. Mauna Kea is unique volcano because it formed glaciers thousands of years ago. Few people would think that there might be a glacier in Hawaii! In winter, the top of the volcano is covered with a snow cap.

Mahukona

Mahukona is an underwater volcano located off the northwestern coast of the Big Island. Once it was 243 m above sea level, but now it is located 1,100 m below. Translated from Hawaiian means "steam coming from the lee side of the island."

Hualalai

The volcano is the third youngest and third most active volcano on the Big Island (after Mauna Loa and Kilauea). The city of Kailua-Kona, the birthplace of the famous Kona coffee, is built on the southwestern slope of the Hualalai volcano. The volcano is named after the wife of the famous Hawaiian navigator Hawaii Loa.

In the past, the volcano erupted frequently. Keahole Airport is built on solidified lava flows. A series of earthquakes in 1929 made it clear that the Hualalai volcano could still pose a threat to Hawaii.

Volcanoes of Maui

West and East Maui are the two volcanoes that form the island.

East Maui

This volcano is also known as Haleakala, the second volcano after Kilauea to erupt since the 18th century. This third largest volcano boasts a fair number of eruptions: ten in the past 10,000 years. The last eruption occurred in 1790. Ten eruptions in 10,000 years - in a special geological time frame, this number can be considered very large. Many scientists are sure that the volcano will wake up soon.

The word "Haleakala" can be translated as "house of the Sun", and the top of the volcano occupies in Hawaiian mythology certain place. Haleakala crater on top of the volcano is currently very popular with tourists.

West Maui

Scientists suggest that this volcano formed about 1.3-2 million years ago. They calculated that its last eruption occurred a million years ago, so it is currently considered extinct and harmless.

Volcanoes of Molokai

There are two volcanoes on the island: Western Molokai(sometimes called Mauna Loa) and Eastern Molokai(Wailau).

Volcano West Molokai is the smaller of these, while East Molokai occupies the eastern two-thirds of the island. Most of the East Molokai volcano is located below sea level, under layers of lava from other volcanoes.

Volcanoes of Oahu

The Koolaou and Waianae volcanoes formed the island of Oahu. Waianae rises above the western (windward) side of the island, while Koolau can be seen on the eastern (leeward) side of the island.

Koolau is a basaltic volcano that forms two-thirds of the island.

Diamond Head Crater, Hanauma Bay and Coco Crater attract thousands of tourists every year. Koolaou is also a favorite subject of study by experts because of the special composition of the lava of this volcano, which contains more quartz than the lava of other Hawaiian volcanoes.

Waianae volcano is higher and older than Koolau. Moreover, it erupts less often, which allows coastal waters to remain clean.

The Hawaiian Islands expand and change their shape in parallel with each volcanic eruption. Due to destructive eruptions, land is formed on which life arises. Visit any of these amazing volcanoes to understand how the beautiful Hawaiian Islands were (and continue to be) shaped.

Olivines found after a volcanic eruption. Photo source: Twitter, @GEOetc2

When an active volcanic eruption began in Hawaii, the whole world started talking about a natural incident. Photos and videos of a frightening and at the same time bewitching spectacle spread all over the world. However, now there is a new reason for discussion: apparently, Kilauea gave the inhabitants of the Big Island a rain of precious stones.

Olivines (the common name for the miner, which includes chrysolites, they are also peridots) are very common in nature, they are mined in many countries on different continents. There are even beaches in Hawaii whose sand is green due to a large number olivine grains weathered from basalt rocks. Although, of course, gem-quality stones - - can be much more difficult to find.