Traveling America: Hawaii - Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park. Volcano Kilauea in Hawaii: description, interesting facts

The volcanic landscape of the Hawaiian Islands is able to impress even the most experienced traveler. The continuously erupting Kilauea volcano spreads lava flows in all directions over a relatively flat surface, gurgling and splashing with red-hot "earth blood", as the native Hawaiians call magma. Thanks to volcanoes, the soil on the islands is very fertile, but constant eruptions do not always make it possible to save the papaya crop.

PELE'S FIRE-BREATHING PALACE
Living in the neighborhood of volcanoes, whose eruptions are unpredictable, the Hawaiians have formed many legends about the wayward Pele, the goddess of volcanoes and fire.

national park « Hawaiian volcanoes"- the only one of its kind in, located at a considerable distance from the mainland.

There are two active volcanoes in the park - Kilauea and Mauna Loa.

Volcano Kilauea- the most active volcano in the world and the youngest of the terrestrial Hawaiian volcanoes: it is only about 300-600 thousand years old. Its restless character, impulsiveness caused by the incessant movement of magma, is also indicated by the local Hawaiian name: “ki-lau-ea” means “spewing”. It has a gently sloping, somewhat convex thyroid cone, which is typical for Hawaiian volcanoes, composed of basaltic lava. The cone ends with a vast caldera - a recess similar to a man-made quarry, more than 200 m deep, at the bottom of which is the Galemau-mau lava lake
(Halemaumau). The lake boils and splashes, throwing out fountains of red-hot drops that can burn through both metal and stone.

From below, from the bowels of the earth, such a gigantic force is pressing that one lake is not enough for the release of lava, and along the Western and Southeastern rift zones that diverge from the top of Kilauea, there are dozens of small craters and two cones - Puu-Oo and Kupayanakh, - from which lava also flows.

No wonder that recent history Kilauea is full of legends. Hawaiians are sure that this is the palace of the goddess of fire, lightning and volcanoes Pele. They also named lava formations in her honor: Pele's Tears - lava particles cooled in the air in the form of drops, Pele's Hair - lava splashes escaping from the bowels of a volcano and frozen in the wind, Pele's Algae - lava bubbles cooled and burst when lava flows into the ocean.

Another volcano - Mauna Loa - ranks second in the world in terms of volume and height (if you take into account the underwater part) and occupies a good half of the island of Hawaii. It also has a flat top, and a noticeably elongated shape, which is reflected in the Hawaiian name of the volcano, which translates as "long mountain." The volcano is active, eruptions are not uncommon here - every 3-4 years. It differs from other volcanoes on the islands in that in winter its top is often covered with snow. According to Hawaiian legends, one of the sisters of the goddess Pele lives in Mauna Loa, and the sisters are at enmity, and therefore a very strong wind often blows between the volcanoes Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea.

The first European to set foot on the Hawaiian Islands in 1778 was the famous English navigator James Cook (1728 - 1779). After Cook, Catholic missionaries frequented here and built several churches here.

Subsequently, planters settled here: they appreciated the fertile volcanic soil and set up many sugar cane plantations, for which they brought workers from Asian countries.

In 1916, at the combined request of the population of the islands, scientists and state authorities, a national park was founded and every economic activity prohibited within its borders.

VOLCANO PEOPLE
Hawaiians have got used to the noisy neighborhood and even settle near volcanoes, where the soil is fatter and nature has taken care of heating and hot water.

the founders of the park pursued two goals: firstly, to create conditions for scientists studying the history of the emergence of the Hawaiian Islands and the processes of volcanism, and secondly, to satisfy the curiosity of everyone who wants to enjoy the spectacle of an amazing volcanic landscape, as well as to see in the wild local flora and fauna.

Scientists work in a specially created volcanological station, as well as a geophysical observatory - the first permanent observatory of this type in the United States, opened back in 1912. Safe routes are organized for tourists: in the past, there were often cases when frivolous and arrogant travelers stayed here forever, dying in hot lava flows.

Hawaiians living around volcanoes have developed a rhythm of life depending on the eruptions. The soil around the volcanoes is very fertile, but during the eruption they throw out tephra (volcanic ash), hanging in the air and representing a danger to life. Subsequently, it falls in the form of acid rain. At this time, the islanders stay away from volcanoes, doing, for example, fishing. The situation is recovering quite quickly, and people are returning to their usual activities, cultivating the soil near volcanoes.

But there are areas here where life is completely impossible, like the wild Cau desert, completely covered with hardened lava, sand and gravel, irrigated by acid rain. A local landmark - footprints in the ashes of the Kau Desert - remained, according to Hawaiian legends, after the eruption of 1790. It was in this year that the leader Kauhuula with soldiers crossed the desert after defeating the leader Kamehameha, and eighty of his soldiers suffocated due to tephra.

The island of Hawaii lies almost 4 thousand km from the nearest mainland ( North America). A unique animal and plant world has formed here, which is constantly threatened by the proximity to volcanoes. There is no life at all directly near the volcanoes, vegetation - tropical rainforests - appears at the foot and is represented by a cybotium tree fern, a tenacious freycinetia shrub and small trees of psychotria mariniana. There are almost no land animals (the hawksbill tortoise is the most common), but there are many birds, including brightly colored ones such as the fiery and black-and-scarlet Hawaiian flower girl.

The nearest city to the park is the port city of Hilo, the largest on the island of Hawaii and the second largest after the capital of the state of Honolulu. The city has long been accustomed to close proximity to the active volcano Mau-na-Loa, but something much more dangerous frightens it. The fact is that it is located on the shores of the bay of the same name, which has the sad glory of the “All-American capital of the tsunami”: tsunamis reach here even from the South American and northern Aleutian Islands across the expanses of the Pacific Ocean, sometimes claiming the lives of dozens of Hilo residents.

ATTRACTIONS

Natural:

• Kilauea volcano (Kilauea caldera, lava lake Galemau-mau, or Halemaumau, Puu-Oo and Kupaya-naha cones).
• Desert Kau.
• Mauna Loa Volcano (Aina Po Trail).
• Kipuka-Puaulu (Bird Park).
• Thurston and Pua Poo caves (lava tubes).
• Crater Chain Road.

Historical:

• Footprints 1790,
• Camp Wilkes (1840)
• "Volcanic House" (historic tourist houses, 1877),
• Volcanic Observatory (1912),
• Rancho Aina-hu, or Novaya Zemlya (1941),
• Puna Kau Historic District,
• Petroglyphs of Puu Loa.

Others:

• Art Gallery.
• Volcanic Center for the Arts ("Volcanic House").
• Thomas Jaggar Museum.

CURIOUS FACTS

■ The first eruption of Kilauea volcano known to Europeans occurred in 1823. Significant eruptions were noted in the 1950s. Last thing massive eruption Kilauea volcano occurred in 1983 - 1985, since then it has not stopped in any way.

■ Hilo, the nearest city to the park, is located in the humid tropical climate zone, it is the third most rainy in the United States (after the Alaskan cities of Ketchikan and Yakutat) and one of the rainiest in the world: more than 5000 mm of precipitation falls here annually. It can rain intermittently in the city up to 280 days a year, and on November 2, 2000, a record was set: almost 70 cm of precipitation fell in a day.

■ Scientists explain the constant seething of the Galemau-mau volcanic lake by the fact that a column of volcanic gas constantly comes out from below, which breaks out to the surface and makes the entire lake gush with spray.

■ The age of the lava covering 90% of the area of ​​the Kilauea volcano is about a thousand years, and the oldest is 2100-2800 years old.

■ Cau Desert - popular place on foot tourist routes, but during a period of special volcanic activity, it is closed to the public due to the increased concentration of poisonous volcanic gases brought by the trade winds.

■ The level of the boiling lava lake Gale-mau-mau is not constant, but sometimes it rises so high that no more than 30 m remains to the edge of the caldera (its depth is 230 m).

■ The pro-Hawaiian community national traditions, including in the spelling of the names, proposed to rename the park to Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, but the proposal was not supported at the federal level.

■ The elepayo bird, which lives in the park, occupies an important place in the folklore of the islanders. Hawaiians believe that elepayo helps canoe builders choose the best wood for the boat's hull. Being in the forest, the Hawaiians monitor the behavior of the elepayo: if a bird sits on a tree trunk, then there are a lot of carpenter insects in it, but if it does not show any interest in it, then the tree is clean and suitable for building canoes.

■ The greatest danger to the animal and flora The national park is not represented by volcanoes, but by alien species of animals brought here, especially the mongoose, wild boar and goat.

■ Cave drawings Puu Loa is the largest collection of ancient petroglyphs in the Hawaiian Islands: there are about 20 thousand of them.

■ The caves of the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park are lava tubes, natural channels formed due to the uneven cooling of lava flows: when surface layer The lava has already hardened, under its crust the lava continues to move and forms complex systems of channels. The length of the caves can reach several kilometers, the height of the vaults is several meters. The world record belongs to the Kazumura cave on the slope of the Kilauea volcano, its length is 65.5 km, and the elevation difference is 1101 m.

■ In the region of volcanoes, sulfur deposits come to the surface, volcanic gases seep here, in which there is a lot of hydrogen sulfide. Therefore, the park administration does not recommend visitors with heart or respiratory diseases (in particular, those suffering from asthma), pregnant women, and young children to go to these places.

GENERAL INFORMATION

Location: North Pacific Ocean, Hawaiian Islands.
Administrative affiliation: State of Hawaii, USA.
Official status: national park. On the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.
Nearest locality: the city of Hilo, 43,263 people. (2010).
Hawaii State Languages: English and Hawaiian.
The ethnic composition of the state of Hawaii: Asians (Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese) - 38.6%, European Americans - 24.7%, mestizos - 14.7%, Hawaiians - 10%, Hispanics (Puerto Ricans and Mexicans) - 8.9 %, African Americans and others - 3.1% (2010). Religions of the state of Hawaii: Christianity (Catholics and Mormons) - 28.9%, Buddhism - 9%, Judaism - 0.8%, other - 10%, non-religious - 51.3% (2000).
Monetary unit: US dollar.
Major airport: Hilo International Airport.

NUMBERS

Park area: 1308.88 km2.

Volcano Kilauea:
height - 1247 m,
caldera with a diameter of 4.5 km and a depth of over 230 m,
rift zones (Southeastern - 125 km, Western - 35 km).

Mauna Loa Volcano:
volume - 75 thousand km3,
height above sea level - 4169 m,
height, taking into account the underwater part - 10 168 m,
peak length - 75 km,
peak width - 48 km,
crater with an area of ​​10 km2 and a depth of 180 m.

Distance between Kilauea and Mauna Loa craters: 30 km.
Length of paved roads: 106 km.
Length hiking trails: 249 km.
Distance: 3900 km west of San Francisco, 4400 km west of Seattle.

CLIMATE

Tropical, trade wind.
The average temperature in January: +19 "C.
The average temperature in July: +30 "C.
Average annual rainfall: up to 2500 mm.

I have already shown you a rather popular one on the Internet, but now I will show you a popular volcanic place for tourists. There is lava right under your feet. This place is considered the "Mecca" of photographers and volcanologists.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park(Hawai "i Volcanoes National Park) is located on the island of Hawaii (Big Island), in the state of Hawaii, USA. The park was founded on August 1, 1916 and has an area of ​​​​1348 km². Here you can see the result of thousands of years of volcanic activity, which has a history of 70 million years.

The park has 2 of the world's most active active volcanoes, the highest of which - Mauna Loa has a height of 4.169 m. The largest eruptions were observed in 1924, 1982 and in March 2008.

The unique landscape of the park is formed by the activity of volcanoes. Travelers have a unique opportunity to see how dormant volcanoes, the slopes of which are already covered 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.

The eruption of Hawaiian volcanoes continues, and sow the day. In the park located here you can see different forms of volcanoes and their eruptions.

It is very, very interesting to see how a volcano erupts, but it is very dangerous, which means that you can look at it from photographs, it is no less interesting, the flowing lava often forms such interesting patterns

This interesting park was established in 1916 on the island of Hawaii, the largest of the Hawaiian Islands, the area of ​​the park is 1348 square kilometers.

It is also interesting that these ancient volcanoes formed the land in the middle of the ocean, here you can see the millennial changes in the world.

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On July 5, 2008, Kilauea's main volcano woke up. Streams of red-hot lava flowed directly into the ocean. On one of the most active volcanoes on earth today - Kilauea (Kilauea) you can ride and walk. True, its most central part - the caldera (Caldera - the zone of soil subsidence in the center of the crater) measuring 3 by 5 square kilometers - is fenced for safety. The volcano can be studied using telescopes mounted on observation deck with explanatory stands.

The largest volcano in this park is Kilauela, it is the main volcano of the park, traditionally considered the main home of the volcano goddess Pele. The first Hawaiians visited this crater to bring gifts to this goddess.

The eruption of the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii began on January 3, 1983 and continues to this day.

Americans joke that "Hawaii is the only state that is growing in size." But, unfortunately, the lava also destroyed 189 buildings and covered 14 kilometers of roads with a layer of 35 meters in places.

The volume of lava erupted by the volcano in 2007 amounted to more than 3.1 cubic meters. km. Lava covered about 117 sq. km. , the area of ​​the island during this time increased by 201 hectares.

Lava creeps up to Gary Slaek's house, which in a few minutes will disappear in a flame of fire.

Gary Slaek and his wife last time sit on the terrace of the house, watching the forest blaze

And here is the culmination, you stand and watch your house burn, and no one can do anything, nature once again proves that man is by no means the main one on this planet.

Meet the Goddess Pele:

In the Hawaiian religion, Kilauea is the home of the goddess Pele, the goddess of volcanoes.

The giant almost round dark gray bowl of the Halemaumau crater located inside Kilauea is considered sacred to the Hawaiians - according to legend, the abode of the volcano goddess Pele. The eruption of this volcano in 1952 lasted 136 days and led to the appearance of a lava lake, now cooled down. On the periphery of the craters, thorns typical of deserts sprouted, some cacti bloomed beautifully.

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Every second the area of ​​the island increases. The lava that erupts into the ocean cools down and creates neoplasms that increase the area of ​​the island. There is a possibility that volcanic shelves and new formations on the coast will break off and sink into Pacific Ocean. If 560 acres of volcanic rock falls into the ocean, it will be another catastrophe. There may be a huge earthquake, tsunami. And this may be the greatest of disasters, some debris may form volcanic islands like the island of Molokai. It will be a global catastrophe.

The park includes a large area, and all heights, from sea level to the highest volcano, the peak of the island, the Maunu Kea volcano, its height is 4,205 meters. It starts at a depth of 6,000 meters, which is even higher than Everest.

Strange, but true, the Hawaiian jungle grows on the island, and just giant ferns, and unique species of birds also live on the island. How do they live here?

This park attracts many volcanologists who study these amazing creations nature. In addition, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is visited by numerous tourists to admire the unique landscape.

The climate in this park is very diverse: from the barren desert of Cau to tropical rain forests. Approximately 50% of the park is wilderness, where hiking is developed. The national park has a great natural value, so in 1980 it was awarded the status of International biosphere reserve, and in 1987 entered the List world heritage UNESCO. The unique landscapes of the park attract about 2.5 million tourists annually.

In 1823, the Kilauea volcano was visited for the first time by representatives of the West. They were the American Asa Thurston and the English missionary William Ellis. Since that time, more than one million tourists have visited the Hawaiian Volcanoes Park to see firsthand the movement of hot lava flows.

Beginning in the 1840s, the Kilauea Volcano became a tourist attraction. Local businessmen George Lycurgus and Benjamin Pitman built hotels here to receive tourists. Tourist pilgrimages increased, and in 1911, Hawaii Governor Walter Freher unveiled a bill to create a "Kīlauea National Park."

However, this bill met with fierce opposition from the ranchers who were located in the area. Only the support of former US President Theodore Roosevelt tipped the scales in favor of creating a national park. On August 1, 1916, Halekala National Park became the first national park in Hawaii and the 11th in the United States. In September 1960, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park was separated from its composition.

Today, the national park provides an opportunity to explore Kilauea without risk to life. But this is one of the most active volcanoes in the world.

At the same time, volcanoes in Hawaii do not have a conical shape, like most volcanoes on our planet, but a shield one, which was formed as a result of many eruptions of liquid lava. Volcanoes that eject basaltic lava have a shield shape. It has a lower viscosity, so it spreads over long distances from the eruption site. This type also includes Mauna Loa - the largest volcano in terms of volume on our planet, which occupies half of the largest Hawaiian island.

However, the Kilauea volcano is the most attractive for tourists. A 17-kilometer road has been laid around it, which provides comfortable access to the fantastic sights located here. Despite the fact that Kilauea is the most active volcano on Earth, it is safe for visitors,

Sometimes lava rolls right into the sea, so slowly the coast increases in size.

In addition to the volcanoes themselves national park there are many caves that are lava tubes. They formed as follows: when the upper part of the lava solidified, its main volume continued to move, leaving behind an empty space. By myself famous cave in Hawaii is the Thurston lava tube, which is open daily to the public.

Every day, 300 thousand cubic meters of lava erupt from Kelauea. That's enough to fill 40,000 garbage trucks. This boiling cauldron can be deadly. Sulfuric emissions smell like a million rotten eggs. These fumes are hazardous to health.

Lava is constantly moving towards the ocean

The image shows six large islands. Hawaiian archipelago, from left to right: Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Maui, Kalohave and Hawaii - the largest island. The archipelago also includes two more large islands and 124 small ones. All the islands of the archipelago are of volcanic origin. The image is compiled from three images taken on March 27, 2006, April 16, 2007 and January 21, 2008 from the same point. Colored dots indicate that geological changes have taken place in this place. Satellite data show that the volcanoes are very active. The Hawaiian Islands are generally one of the most volcanically active regions.

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."

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Solidifying lava. Thomas Jagger set up a museum on the edge of the 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.

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 it 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 territory of the national park is wilderness, intended 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 to them, 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 as you travel 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 most large 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.
Most last eruption 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 territory, fell under an unusual powerful eruption volcano. 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, a civilian guard corps worked on the territory of the Hawaii Volcanoes Park. environment whose main goal was to preserve natural resources parka. 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.

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Preserves Culture local residents islands and protects numerous archeological sites - material reminders of the indigenous people, forever associated with this land.

Because of his geographical location The Hawaiian Islands are truly unique and inimitable. Being the only states The United States, which is entirely on volcanic rock, Hawaii is replete with impressive 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. Translated from the Hawaiian Mauna Loa means "long mountain" - a volcano, whose 4,117 m are above the ocean surface. 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 at southeast coast 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 the slope of the 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 holds a 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 - Mauna Loa volcanoes 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 a certain place in Hawaiian mythology. 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 Volcano East Molokai 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. Koolau is also a favorite subject of study by specialists 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.

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.

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 service national parks, 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."

Close-up cracks from which lava splashes, rising into the air to a height of up to 10 meters.

A NASA satellite image of the ash plume continuing to rise from the Kilauea volcano for largest island 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.

Arc-shaped fountain, approximately 10 meters high, erupting at western edge from 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. Climatic conditions The parks 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 centennial 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 to hiking, 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 most big 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 most high 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.