Volcanoes in Hawaii. Hawaiian Volcanoes Famous Shield Volcano

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 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.

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 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.

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 mineral, 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 the large number of olivine grains weathered from basalt rocks. Although, of course, gem-quality stones - - can be much more difficult to find.

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Olivine green sand on a beach in Hawaii

Olivine green sand from a Hawaiian beach

Probably, during a volcanic eruption, olivines, usually born at a depth of about 400 meters, were thrown to the surface along with lava. Considering that it is usually extremely difficult to separate these stones from the rock, it was the sharp and fast ejection of hot and very quickly cooling lava that released the pieces of the mineral, sending them into free flight. Now, residents of all areas of the island closest to the volcano find a dozen tiny olivines per day.

It is worth noting that another position regarding the “precious rain” in Hawaii is being actively discussed today. Some scientists are inclined to believe that the inhabitants of the island mistook pieces of cooled green lava for olivines, and the stones found, most likely, lay on the surface from the last eruption of another volcano - Kapoho.

If you want to find a lot of olivines, the best way out is to go to one of the local beaches, where nature has already done all the work for us…

Scott Rowland, geologist

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is a clear testimony to the activity of volcanic processes that took place over 70 million years, as a result of which the Hawaiian Islands were formed with a unique complex of ecosystems. The park includes 1,309 km2 of territory stretching from sea level to the tops of the largest volcanoes on the planet: Mauna Loa with a height of 4169 m and Kilauea, the most active volcano in the world, giving scientists an understanding of the origin of the Hawaiian Islands, and for tourists serves as a viewing point for unique volcanic landscapes.

The climate of the park is very diverse, from tropical rainforests to the arid and barren Cau Desert. About half of the national park is wilderness, reserved for hiking and camping. In recognition of its outstanding natural values, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park was awarded the status of an International Biosphere Reserve in 1980, and in 1987 it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. The unique landscapes of the park annually attract about 2.5 million tourists.

History of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

The first Westerner, the English missionary William Ellis and the American Asa Thurston, visited the Kilauea volcano in 1823. Ellis describes his first impression of an erupting volcano: “Before our eyes appeared a stunning, even terrifying sight. We stopped and trembled with fear. Surprise and fear fettered us for a few minutes, and, like statues, we froze motionless, our eyes were riveted to the abyss below. Since that time, millions of tourists have visited the Hawaiian Volcanoes Park to watch the movement of hot lava flows. Numerous eruptions and lava flows attract here both specialists and scientists, as well as ordinary travelers.

Beginning in the 1840s, the Kilauea volcano became a tourist attraction. Local businessmen Benjamin Pitman and George Lycurgus built hotels here to receive tourists. William R. Castle first pitched the idea for the park in 1903 to Lorrin Thurston, who at the time owned the Honolulu Advertiser newspaper. In 1907, 50 members of Congress and their families visited the Hawaiian Islands. They visited the Haleakala and Kilauea volcanoes, where lunch was prepared for them on steaming lava vents. Hawaii Governor Walter Freher proposed a bill in 1911 to create a "Kīlauea National Park". Thurston and local landowner William Herbert Shipman marked out the proposed boundaries of the future park, but ran into resistance from ranchers located in the area. Then Thurston enlisted the support of one of the most famous conservationists, John Muir, the well-known statesman and historian of that time, Henry Cabot, and former US President Theodore Roosevelt. After several unsuccessful attempts, the bill to create the park was finally approved. Congressional Resolution 9525 was signed by Woodrow Wilson on August 1, 1916. It became the 11th National Park in the United States and the first in Hawaii. It was originally called the Hawaii National Park, and on September 22, 1960, it separated from the Halekala National Park and became the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. In 2004, an additional 468.58 km2 were added to the national park area, thus increasing it by 56%. It was the largest land purchase in Hawaiian history. The site was purchased for $21.9 million.

The Hawaiian Islands were formed in the ocean millions of years ago due to volcanic processes. Today, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park on the Big Island of Hawaii is one of the few places on the planet where a person can come face to face with an active volcano. The park provides a risk-free opportunity to explore Kilauea, one of the most active volcanoes in the world, which makes Hawaii one of the largest tourist regions in the world.

Most volcanoes in the world are conical in shape. In contrast, Hawaii is dominated by shield volcanoes, which were formed as a result of numerous eruptions of liquid lava, forming a gentle shield. The shield form is characteristic of volcanoes ejecting basaltic lava, since it, as a rule, has a lower viscosity and spreads at remote distances from the eruption site. A good example of such volcanoes is Mauna Loa, the largest volcano on the planet by volume, covering half of the largest island in Hawaii.

Today, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is the number one attraction on the islands. It is a real living museum where visitors can see for themselves the power of the underground forces of nature. Here you can feel the supernatural power of nature while traveling through rocky paths and desert areas, which over time will become covered with lush vegetation and form various forms of life.

There are currently three active volcanoes in Hawaii. Maunaloa and Kilauea are located within the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. Another volcano, Loihi, is located underwater on the southern coast of the Big Island of Hawaii. Erupting since 1996, it could cause a new island to form tens of thousands of years later, adding 9 islands to the Hawaiian island chain. Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on the planet in terms of volume and area covered by lava, and one of the five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii. The Hawaiian name Mauna Loa means "Long Mountain". Erupting lava is scarce in silicon, and therefore liquid and fluid. As a result of this, eruptions are generally non-explosive, and the volcano has a relatively gentle escarpment.
The most recent eruption of the Mauna Loa volcano occurred from March 24 to April 15, 1984. Its last eruptions caused no loss of life, but the eruptions of 1926 and 1950 destroyed many nearby villages. Mauna Loa has been intensively monitored by the Hawaiian Volcanoes Observatory since 1912. Observations are carried out at the Mauna Loa Observatory, located near its summit.

Kilauea is the youngest of the volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii, having formed over the past 100 years. Its caldera is surrounded by 17 km of road which provides easy access to the fantastic sights it contains. For visitors to the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, Kilauea is the number one attraction for a number of reasons: it is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet, providing a great opportunity to watch the amazing spectacle of lava flow, and it is relatively safe to visit because its eruptions are not explosive in nature.

The name Kilauea in Hawaiian means "throws out" or "throws a lot." The height of the volcano reaches 1247 m, and the caldera is almost 5 km long and about 3.6 km wide. Lava has been flowing continuously from the volcano since January 3, 1983. Currently, Kilauea is the most active volcano on the planet and an invaluable resource for volcanologists. It is also considered the most frequently visited volcano on the planet. The volume of lava flowing out of the volcano is sufficient to pave the way around the earth's surface three times. Kilauea is the latest in a series of volcanoes that formed the Hawaiian archipelago.

The Kilauea volcano and its caldera have traditionally been considered the sacred home of Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess. From time immemorial, Haitians have visited this crater to pay their generous gifts to the goddess. Legends say that eruptions occur when the goddess is angry. Such concepts are included in tribal chants and are often used by the local inhabitants of the islands. In 1790, a detachment of warriors of the local tribe, along with women and children who were in this area, fell under an unusually powerful volcanic eruption. Many died, and others left their footprints on the lava, which can be clearly seen today.

Hawaiian volcanoes are marked in the history of the Hawaiian Islands. On the territory of the park in 1923, the first take-off area in Hawaii was built, designed to receive aircraft. In the 1930s, the civilian environmental protection corps worked on the territory of the Hawaii Volcanoes Park, the main goal of which was aimed at preserving the natural resources of the park. The infrastructure of the national park created in those years is still used today. The scars of World War II are visible in areas where military pilots practiced the practice of bombing. On the territory of the Kilauea military camp, captured soldiers of the Second World War were kept.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park preserves the culture of the island's natives and preserves numerous archaeological sites, tangible reminders of the indigenous people forever associated with this land.

Majestic volcanoes in Hawaii, Goddess Pele and erupting lava. Lava, where are you?

Location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island of Hawaii

As we mentioned in our previous posts, Big Island Hawaii we rode for its volcanoes and erupting lava.

(or the Hawaiian Volcanic National Park) gives its visitors a unique opportunity to look at volcanic eruptions at a fairly close and at the same time safe distance.

The park itself was founded at the beginning of the last century, and in 1987 it was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The territory of the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park includes two volcanoes - these are:

– Mauna Loa (Mauna Loa, 4169 m), the second highest volcano in Hawaii after Mauna Kea (4205 m);

– Kilauea (Kilauea, 1247 m), the youngest of the terrestrial Hawaiian volcanoes and one of the most active active volcanoes on Earth.

Both volcanoes are shield-shaped. mauna loa is the largest volcano in the world in terms of volume, its last eruption occurred in 1984, and the last strong one in 1950. At its top there is a volcanological station, as well as atmospheric and solar observatories.

You can climb Mauna Loa, there are hiking trails, but you need to register before climbing and it is recommended to do a many-kilometer hiking track with an overnight stay along the way.

Volcano Kilauea began to actively erupt at the end of the last century and continues to the present. At the top of Kilauea gaping huge caldera measuring 3 by 4 km (a vast basin with steep walls and a more or less even bottom of volcanic origin).

In this basin is Halemaumau Crater. This crater is active, lava boils in it and smoke pours in a high column.

We will write a couple more lines about this crater a little later., because specially went to him in the evening to look at his red glow. During the day, this glow is not visible.

There, next to the Halemaumau crater, is located Thomas A. Jaggar Museum, he was the first head of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory.

The museum itself is small, there you can get acquainted with information about the nature of Hawaiian volcanoes, about eruptions and studying them, the equipment of volcanologists is also presented there, films are broadcast and you can buy souvenirs for yourself.

Right at the exit from the museum there is an observation deck with panoramic views of Halemaumau crater.

The crater is located a couple of kilometers away and visitors are not allowed close to it, because. there inside it really boils and erupts lava. Parking for cars is organized in front of the museum. In the evening, there are usually a huge number of people who want to look at the Hawaiian lava.

Interestingly, the eruptions of Hawaiian volcanoes are classified as “silent”. Erupting, the streams of their red-hot lava do not explode, but slowly flow in gentle slopes, which is why this area is considered one of the safest in the world for observation.

To the question “What if we get burned,” local rangers usually answer with a smile a la “Don’t worry, you won’t be able to step on hot lava, because. approaching it, you will already feel a high temperature and you will not be able to physically approach it, the body itself will not let it go.

Unlike volcanoes with a conical shape, Hawaiian volcanoes shield form. The reasons for this: numerous lava eruptions, which eventually formed a gentle shield. As well as the composition of the lava itself (basalt) - a lower viscosity, which allows the lava to spread over longer distances from the center of its eruption.

Mauna Loa Volcano- a great example of this, in terms of its volume it is the most massive volcano on Earth, its area covers almost half of the Big Island of Hawaii. The volcano is 112 km long and 48 km wide.

Also a feature of the Hawaiian shield volcanoes are their rift zones. They are cracks and allow lava to erupt away from the center of the volcano. An example of this today is Kilauea volcano. He has mouth Puu Oo, it is located about 15 km east of the Kilauea crater itself.

Here, in Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park you can see the most diverse picture: from lifeless “lunar” landscapes with black solidified lava to dense green almost impenetrable forests (Hawaiian jungle) with huge tree-like giant ferns. There are black sand beaches and even green ones.

Endangered species of animals and birds are found here. The local nature is graceful on the one hand and insanely harsh on the other. I saw something similar in one of Canary Islands - Lanzarote.

There, on the island, a volcano once erupted and the area has not yet acquired any vegetation, only small bald patches of moss. But the other part of the island, not touched by the erupting lava, just bursts with greenery, chokes right in it. Very original and interesting picture. It is a pity that there are very few photos from that trip to the Canary Islands.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park area is 1308 sq. km.

It has paved roads, the total length of which is more than 100 km, as well as hiking trails (ca. 250 km).

Part of the Crater Rim Drive was closed this time. Today we drove by car all the way to the end of the Chain of Craters Road and from it walked on foot through the hardened lava.

This road was once “flooded” with lava, in certain places “bald spots” are visible - sections of asphalt. We didn't take many pictures there. We were already stomping at dusk and decided to leave the camera in the car.

Five volcanoes on the Big Island of Hawaii are of cultural value to native Hawaiians.

These volcanoes are considered sacred to them and are closely associated with Hawaiian mythology.

Hawaiian legends represent Kilauea volcano and Halemaumau crater like an abode Goddess Pele- patroness of fire and volcanoes.

According to Wikipedia: According to the Hawaiians, Pele was the daughter of the goddess Haumea and her husband Moemoe. Born in a country called Kahiki (possibly Tahiti), located south of the Hawaiian Islands. She had eight sisters and five brothers.

One of the Hawaiian legends tells about the long voyage of the goddess Pele in search of a new land on her canoe Honua-ia-kea. Having sailed to the Hawaiian Islands, Pele tried several times unsuccessfully to find a place for her family's home. Every time she started to dig the ground, she was washed away with water and the family was forced to continue searching. So, according to the ideas of the ancient Hawaiians, numerous volcanic craters appeared on the archipelago, including Diamond Head, Koko, Makapuu, as well as Kilauea on the island of Hawaii, where Pele eventually settled.

The origin of the famous Hawaiian hula dance is also associated with the name of the goddess. One day, while walking with her retinue, Pele saw Hopoe and Jaen, friends of her younger sister Hiiaka, performing a beautiful dance. Subsequently, Pele asked her sisters to repeat the dance, but no one managed to do this, except for Hiiak. Since then, Hiiaka has become the patroness of the hula dance, and all prayer songs since then have been named either in her honor or in honor of Pele.

Hawaiians revere Pele, presenting her with numerous offerings, and the goddess herself allegedly met people more than once in the form of a beautiful girl.

At the entrance to the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is located information Center. There you can get all the necessary information with maps and brochures about hiking trails, viewing platforms, roads and other useful things.

Some roads and hiking trails are sometimes closed for safety. And not only because of the lava eruption, but also because of the large amount of all sorts of chemical compounds released into the air that are harmful to health.

Myself information Center works somewhere from morning to five in the evening. Entrance to the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is paid, something like $ 10 per car (we don’t remember exactly), the payment is valid for several days.

The park is open to visitors all 24 hours, you can walk around it around the clock, but at night it is advisable to have a reliable flashlight with you, because. on the footpaths there is darkness, and at night you can’t do without a flashlight, well, in general, in no way.

What is there to do at night? Watch (or rather look for) lava. During the day it is not visible at all, if only the rising columns of smoke, but the red glow of it can just be seen after sunset.

In our next post, we will talk in more detail about what interesting things can be found here in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. Where we were, what we saw and “is there lava in Hawaii”, and if so, where exactly.

And so, our fourth day holidays in Hawaii continued by what we are from Kona safely reached the village by car Volcano Village.

This place is located a couple of kilometers from the entrance to the national park and not too far from the giant volcanoes - Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which was very convenient for us.

In terms of accommodation, we booked here (through hotels.com or agoda.com, I don't remember exactly) a room in a large old Hawaiian house. The price per night was something like $60, plus breakfast for a fee. I really liked this house as well as its location. We will also tell about this village separately.

After settling in, of course, the first thing we did was to get acquainted with the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. We stayed there until deep darkness in search of lava.

But that is another story. To be continued.

Your restless Nata and Tyoma

Kilauea Volcano in Hawaii
Kilauea (translated from Hawaiian - "spewing, strongly spreading") is an active shield volcano on the island of Hawaii.

Kilauea has been erupting continuously since January 3, 1983. The eruption of Puu-oo-Kupaiataha has been going on for 23 years. In 1983, a series of short-lived lava fountains formed the Puu-oo cone. In 1986, the eruption moved 3 km down the eastern rift zone and formed a wide shield (Kupaianakha), which took 5.5 years to form.

In September 2002, a large flow of basalts erupted from the Kilauea volcano, which blocked the roads and reached the coast of the ocean.


The volcano entered the phase of intense activity on March 6, 2011.
Lava flows erupt from the volcano in two places and flow into the Pacific Ocean located at the foot. The area was marked by intense heat and several explosions. Once in noticeably cooler water, the flowing lava raises a mass of vapor into the air. Particles of lava and acid are registered in the vapor cloud, making the area dangerous.






The diameter of the crater (about 4.5 km) is considered the largest in the world.

Lava fountains hit to a height of more than 20 meters. After one of the walls of the crater collapsed, lava flows flowed down from the cracks. Local authorities have decided not to evacuate tourists yet, but their movement around the island is limited due to a natural disaster. Thus, the leadership of the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park closed roads in the area of ​​the volcano for travel. however, the eruption can be observed from a helicopter.

Sulfur dioxide (SO2) levels are elevated in the vicinity of Kilauea. On June 5, approximately 800 tons of SO2 rose into the air, while in 2003-2007, an average of 140 tons per day evaporated. However, 800 tons is not yet the 1700 that happened before.

From the neck of the funnel-shaped depression at the foot of the Halema-um-u crater, heat radiates, perfectly visible (pictured) at night or even at dusk with the naked eye.

The MODIS and GOES-WEST spacecraft continue to record thermal anomalies. However, the level of seismic activity still remains at a moderate level, there are practically no noticeable earthquakes.

Part of the territory occupied by Kilauea is part of the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.

Kilauea is believed to be the home of Pele, the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes. Some lava formations are named after her - for example, "Pele's tears" (small drops of lava that cool in air and take the form of a tear) and "Pele's hair" (thin filaments of volcanic glass - obsidian, formed as a result of the rapid cooling of lava when flowing into Ocean).

this eruption happened almost a year ago, but I think this volcano will show itself in all its glory.

Volcanic activity in Hawaii is at its peak, and many people come here to see this brilliant spectacle. Guests of the Hawaiian Volcano National Park can witness the activity of volcanoes and the formation of new glowing craters, lava rivers and lava spray fountains. This fire-breathing paradise has 70 million years of volcanic activity, but this place became a national park only in 1916.

Sulfur dioxide rises from the Halemaumau crater next to the rainbow.

A fissure between the Puu crater and Napau, from which lava splashes fly out, forming flows.

A relatively small but fast-moving lava flow rushes past the coconut trees to the ocean. According to the National Park Service, native trees help protect the park's fragile ecosystems from fires. However, "the invasion and establishment of alien tropical and subtropical plants, coinciding with the current Kilauea eruption, has caused a threefold increase in fire frequency compared to historical levels, and the average fire area has increased 60 times."

A close-up of a fissure from which lava spurts, rising into the air to a height of up to 10 meters.

A NASA satellite image showing an ash plume continuing to rise from the Kilauea volcano on the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Thin cloud cover makes it easy to see the plume of ash rising from the Puu crater. Along the coast of the island, small double plumes move in the same direction. These plumes rise from hot lava that has reached the ocean. If you look closely at this image, you can see that the entire landscape is dotted with lava flows.

A lava fountain over the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii hits a height of 40 meters.

"Smoke hatch" in the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

An arcuate fountain, approximately 10 meters high, erupts on the western edge of Puu Kahualea. This is the first geological phase, by the beginning of the third phase it was already 60 meters high.

Ash cloud rising from Puu Oo crater.

A stream of lava, separated from the main stream, flows down a small cliff.

The lava flow from the western group of cones moves through the forests down the slope.

Lava spurts from a vent in northeast Kamoamoa during an eruption in March 2011.

Lava flows blocked the road.

Tourists among the cooled lava in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park.

"Warning! Drive carefully on the tourist trail.”

Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, USA.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is a huge park complex with an area of ​​1348 km². Visitors to the park will be able to see dramatic volcanic landscapes as well as glimpses of rare species of flora and fauna.

On the territory of the park you can observe the two largest active volcanoes in the world: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. This volcanic complex has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.

The Hawaiian Volcanoes Park was founded in 1916 and has attracted the attention of millions of tourists every year since then. On its territory you can meet both already extinct volcanoes covered with tropical forests, and now active ones. The area around the volcanoes is covered with huge layers of solidified lava, which has accumulated here over the past 70 million years. Large eruptions were observed on the Hawaiian Volcanoes in 1924, 1982. and in 2008. Millions of years of eruptions have practically formed in the middle of the ocean a huge piece of land with its own unique ecosystem. The climatic conditions of the park are quite diverse: from the dead desert of Kau to huge tracts of tropical forests.

Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano in the world. It was thanks to the eruptions of this volcano that half of the island was formed. Kilauea is the youngest volcano in Hawaii, with only a century of history. It attracts great attention of tourists with its super activity and convenient location. Kilauea is surrounded by a 17-kilometer road ring, from which it is quite convenient to observe the life of the volcano. In addition, on the island you can visit whole chains of underground caves, formed due to the fact that the upper layer of lava solidifies, while the lower one continues to move.

More than half of the island is accessible on foot, while the other half can be explored by car or helicopter. The Hawaiian Volcanoes Park is visited by over 2 million tourists annually. Since 1980, the park has been given the status of an International Biosphere Reserve.

Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park photo.

Founded in 1913, this park invites tourists to see a unique ecosystem formed by the efforts of volcanoes over hundreds of thousands of years.

And Kilauea himself will gladly show the guests of the park how the Hawaiian Islands appeared and at the same time share his experience of how such picturesque landscapes are obtained. Of course, you won’t succeed in repeating this, but curiosity can be satisfied.

Starting from the foothills of the mountains nestled at the bottom of the ocean, and up to their peaks, propping up the heavens, there are boundless volcanic landscapes stretching for 1348 square meters. km.

In addition to the Kilauea volcano, which is considered the residence of the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes Pele, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is also the largest volcano on our planet - mauna loa. Its height is 4168 m above sea level, and its volume is about 80,000 cubic meters. m. In addition, Mauna Loa is the second largest volcano in the entire solar system after the extinct volcano Olympus on Mars.

Mauna Loa erupts infrequently, so its slopes are quite gentle. "Long Mountain" - as the name of the volcano is translated from the Hawaiian - throws lava out rarely, but aptly. So, the explosions of 1926 and 1950. simply destroyed nearby villages.

Another neighbor of Kilauea is an extinct volcano Mauna Kea. If you measure its height, starting from the base, which is located at a depth of 6000 meters at the bottom of the ocean, and up to the top, you get 10,203 m, of which only 4205 m are visible - and this is much higher than Everest. So Mauna Kea is highest volcano on the planet. Its age is about a million years, and the last time the volcano woke up 4-6 thousand years ago.

Kilauea Caldera, similar to a boiling lake of molten lava, with an area of ​​​​4.5 square meters. m and a depth of 230 m, makes you freeze in reverent silence and look with awe and surprise at the power and beauty of the volcano, understanding why in the past it was here that the Hawaiians brought gifts to the goddess Pele, dropping them directly into the fire-breathing crater.

But the top of Mauna Kea is considered the most important of the sacred peaks of Hawaii. Only leaders were allowed to climb it. Today, a real observatory is located on an extinct volcano - 13 telescopes are installed there: after all, the top of Mauna Kea is considered one of the best places on Earth for astronomical observations.