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Article #84: Hawaii Volcanoes--Entering the Caldera of Fire

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Hawaii volcanoes are known as "shield" sometimes referred to as the "drive-in"
volcanoes, gently sloping mountains volcano since it can be easily viewed by
produced from a lot of very wet, car. Even if you don't experience lava
fast-moving lava flows. Each Hawaiian flows when you visit, there is much to
island is made up of at least one primary see. Lava craters, giant chasms, vents
volcano. spewing steam, lava tubes (or caves) and
When you move along the island chain from Hawaiian petroglyphs can all be
the south, where volcanoes are active, to experienced here. The Visitor's Center
the northwest part of the chain, the at the Kilauea Caldera is located at
volcanoes become older--and less active. 4,000 feet. Here you can find books,
The active volcanoes erupt a type of rock videos and other information about the
known as basalt. When in a "molten" park.
state, basalt produces the fluid lava Crater Rim Drive, which circles the
that you see running down mountains and volcano, has many interesting viewpoints
valleys. and jumping off points for short hikes.
The Big Island of Hawaii is home to five Also within the park is the Jagger Museum
major volcanoes: Kilauea, Mauna Loa, and the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory. Be
Mauna Kea, Hualalaiand Kohala. Mauna Loa sure to bing your camera, water, food and
is considered the largest active volcano extra clothes, especially if you are
on earth, even though it has not erupted staying in the area after sunset.
since 1984. But Kilauea, home of the One can easily spend a day or two
Hawaii Vocanoes National Park, is the exploring Kilauea, so give yourself
most active volcano in terms of how much enough time to really experience the rare
lava it erupts each year, and the place phenomenon of a live volcano.
most visitors come to see volcanic In addition to Kilauea volcano, two other
action. volcanic mountains on the Big Island,
Ancient Hawaiians believed that Kilauea Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea are prominent.
was the physical manifestation of the They stand more than 13,500 feet high and
fury of the mountain goddess, Pele. have frequent snowstorms during the
Kilauea has added 550 acres of coastal winter. Mauna Kea even has year-round
land since eruptions began in 1983. (To snow fields near its pinnacle. Imagine
visualize how large this is, imagine that being able to ski in Hawaii!
this is enough to fill more than 200 If your time on the Big Island is short
million dump trucks!). Hot rivers of and you would like to take a look at
molten orange lava, flowing downhill can Kilauea volcano, consider a helicopter
be seen most any evening of the year. tour. Since you can't really "see" the
Hawaii Vocanoes National Park, two hour's mountain from anywhere else on the
drive from Kona and five hours from island, a helicopter tour is a good way
Kohala on the Big Island, can be the to view the volcanic activity.
highlight of any vacation. Open year Helicopter tour operators can be found in
round, one can explore the many aspects Hilo and the Kohala resort areas.
of Kilauea volcano. Much of the best When planning your Hawaii adventure, be
hiking on the Big Island is found within sure include some time at the amazing
this park. And a visit to the park will Kilauea Volcano, for an "other worldly"
give you an up-close view of a volcano. view of life on our planet.
The Park, open 24 hours a day, is






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