1. Hawaii
The island of Hawaii is composed
of five volcanoes: Kohala, Hualalai,
Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa and
Kilauea. We visited the last 3.
2. Mauna Kea
Last erupted 4,500 years ago
Tallest volcano on Earth
Characterized by abundant cinder
cones
Known for the astronomical
observatories on its summit
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5. Mauna Kea
Glacial features on Mauna Kea.
Yes, there were glaciers on Mauna
Kea. No, you can’t see much in this
photo.
6. Puu Mahana
To get an idea as to what the inside
of a cinder cone (sort of) looks like,
we visit one of only two green
sand beaches in the world. This
beach represents an eroded littoral
cone, caused by the interaction of
flowing lava (associated with
Mauna Loa) and seawater.
11. Black Sand at
Punalu’u
For comparison to the green sand,
here turtles are relaxing on a black
sand beach. The black sand forms
at a point where lava entered the
sea and cooled very quickly.
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15. Mauna Loa
Tallest mountain in the world (if
you measure from the seafloor)
Last erupted in 1984
Covered with multi-colored lava
flows
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19. Observatory
At just over 11,000 feet is the
National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration’s Mauna Loa
Observatory. The observatory has
been measuring atmospheric gases,
particles and solar radiation since
the 1950s.
24. Observatory
Water-mist fire extinguisher.
Computer geeks like these because
the extinguishing agent doesn’t
conduct electricity and it doesn’t
make a mess like a regular multi-
purpose dry chemical extinguisher.
25. Mauna Loa
In 1935, stone walls were built in an
attempt to contain lava flows
26. Kilauea
One of the most active volcanoes
on Earth
Has been erupting continuously
since 1983
27. A large block of the Kilauea rim has partially slumped into the
caldera. Steam escapes from vents all over this slumped area.
28. The Sulphur Banks
Vents, known as solfatars, emit gases, including sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.
Condensation of these emissions leaves deposits of yellow sulfur, red hematite and white opal.
39. Kilauea Iki: site of a spectacular eruption in 1959. The eruption
filled a valley with a lava lake over 400 feet deep.
40. Kilauea Iki valley today. The cooled lava lake is in the foreground. The source
of the lava fountains is in the background. Steam rising from Halemaumau
Crater is visible in the distance.
47. Borings installed by the U.S. Geological Survey to monitor the cooling of the
lava lake at Kilauea Iki. It was still partially molten until around 1990.