Mauna Loa is the largest volcano on earth. America Travel: Hawaii - Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Hawaiian Islands as the eruption points are called

National park Hawaiian Volcanoes (Hawaii, USA) - exact location, interesting places, inhabitants, routes.

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Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is one of the few places on the planet where there is a unique opportunity to observe, practically without risk to life, how incandescent lava erupts from the depths of the earth to the surface. On its territory is the most majestic volcano on Earth, Mauna Loa, and the most active one - Kilauea, and over 3 million travelers come to see them every year.

The park was founded in Hawaii in 1916 and currently has an area of ​​approximately 1,300 square meters. km. In 1987, it was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List, but it has been of interest among tourists and scientists since the 19th century.

The Mauna Loa volcano reaches a height of 9,100 m, and Kilauea has never stopped erupting since 1983.

Volcanic activity in the protected area is manifested in geysers, lava flows and pipes, thermal fields, crater pits, black sand beaches and other phenomena. On its territory you can see both tropical vegetation and barren deserts, which serve as a habitat for a variety of animals and insects. Including the endangered ones, among which are smiling spiders, biss turtles, carnivorous caterpillars, nene birds. The park has many Aboriginal archaeological sites, from original structures to the rarest concentrations of petroglyphs. But the main interest is, of course, volcanoes.

Volcanoes and what else to see

The difference between the volcanoes of the archipelago is that they belong to the category of "quiet" - lava erupts smoothly and flows down the slopes in slow waves, therefore it does not pose a danger to the observer. The last eruption Mauna Loa was recorded in 1984, but Kilauea is constantly active. But lava flows not from the crater, but at a distance of 15 km from it - through a crack. For more than 30 years of activity, 3.5 cubic meters of water have been ejected from the bowels of Kilauea. km of lava. The volcanoes of the park are considered a sacred place for local residents and in their mythology they are represented as the abode of the deities of wind, lightning and fire.

In the park, you can not only observe the activity of volcanoes, but also organize trekking or ride through the deserts, jungles and cooled lava fields in a jeep.

Other attractions of the "Hawaiian Volcanoes" include information centre; Thomas Jagger Museum with a chic observation deck, an observatory and a gift shop; sulfur deposits; huge caves of lava origin, fumaroles (steam emissions of high temperature from volcanic fractures) and the aforementioned petroglyphs. The park provides hundreds of kilometers of hiking trails and ideal camping opportunities. For lovers active rest extreme jeep tours, mountain biking and helicopter and even small airplane tours over volcanoes, beaches, valleys and waterfalls are offered.

Practical information

The park is located in the southeastern region of the Big Island of Hawaii, 48 km from the city of Hilo and 154 km from the city of Kon. You can get to the place from these cities by buses or order a transfer from the hotel.

For those by car: the N11 highway leads to the park. Exact coordinates: 19.418956; 155.301740.

Entrance to the territory is free, but you will have to pay for a car or bicycle (information on the website). The park is open every day, 24 hours a day; information center working hours: every day from 7:45 to 17:00. Website (in English).

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

Kilauea has erupted continuously since January 3, 1983. The eruption of Puu-oo-Kupayataha 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 (Kupianakha), which formed over 5.5 years.

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


The volcano entered a 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 of the volcano. The area was marked by intense heat and several explosions. Getting into noticeably cooler water, the flowing lava raises a mass of vapors into the air. Lava and acid particles are registered in the vapor cloud, making the area dangerous.






The crater diameter (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 1700, which happened before.

Heat emanates from the neck of the funnel-shaped depression at the foot of the Halema-uma-u crater, perfectly visible (pictured) at night or even at dusk with the naked eye.

Spacecraft MODIS and GOES-WEST 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 national park Hawaiian Volcanoes.

Kilauea is considered 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 the 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 draining into Ocean).

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

Volcanic activity in Hawaii is at its peak, and many people come here to see this glorious sight. Visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park can witness volcanic activity 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 Puu and Napau craters, from which splashes of lava are emitted, forming streams.

A relatively small but fast-moving lava flow rushes past the coconut trees to the ocean. Local trees help keep the park's fragile ecosystems safe from fire, according to the National Park Service. However, "the invasion and survival of alien tropical and subtropical plants, which coincided with the current eruption of Mount Kilauea, has resulted in a threefold increase in the frequency of fires 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 10 meters.

NASA satellite image showing ash plume continuing to rise from Kilauea volcano on the largest island Hawaiian archipelago... The thin cloud cover allows a clear view of the ash jet rising from the Puu crater. Along the coast of the island, small double plumes move in the same direction. These plumes rise from the 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.

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

"Smoke hatch" in the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii.

An arched fountain, approximately 10 meters high, erupting on the western edge of Puu Cahualea. 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 lava stream, 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 sprayed from a hole in northeast Camoamoa during the March 2011 eruption.

Lava flows blocked the passage.

Tourists among the cooled lava in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

"A warning! Drive carefully along the hiking trail. ”

Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park, USA.

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 flora and fauna.

Two of the world's largest active volcanoes can be observed in the park: Kilauea and Mauna Loa. This volcanic complex has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987.

Hawaiian Volcanoes Park was founded in 1916 and since then has attracted the attention of millions of tourists every year. On its territory you can find both already extinct volcanoes, covered with tropical forests, and currently 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 a huge piece of land in the middle of the ocean, with its own unique ecosystem. Climatic conditions parks are quite varied: from the dead Caude desert to vast tracts of rainforest.

Mauna Loa is the largest currently active volcano in the world. It is 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 huge attention of tourists with its extra 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, whole chains can be visited on the island. underground caves formed due to the fact that the upper layer of lava solidifies, and the lower one continues to move.

More than half of the island is available for hiking and the other half can be explored by car or helicopter. Hawaiian Volcanoes Park is visited by more than 2 million tourists annually. Since 1980, the park has been awarded the status of an International Biosphere Reserve.

Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park photo.

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

And Kilauea himself will be happy to demonstrate to 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. You won't be able to repeat this, of course, but your curiosity can be satisfied.

From the foothills of the mountains, nestled at the bottom of the ocean, to their peaks that support the heavens, there are boundless volcanic landscapes stretching for 1348 square meters. km.

In addition to the volcano Kilauea, which is considered the residence of the Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes Pele, in the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park there 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 whole Solar system after the extinct volcano Olympus on Mars.

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

Another neighbor of Kilauea is an extinct volcano Mauna Kea... If you measure its height, starting from the base, which is at a depth of 6,000 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 tallest volcano on the planet... Its age is about a million years, and the last time the volcano woke up 4-6 thousand years ago.

Caldera Kilauea, 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 awe-inspiring silence and gaze with trepidation and surprise at the power and beauty of the volcano, understanding why in the past it was here that Hawaiians brought gifts to the goddess Pele, dropping them directly into a fire-breathing crater.

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

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 literally underfoot. This place is considered a "Mecca" for photographers and volcanologists.

Hawaiian 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 with a history of 70 million years.

The park contains 2 of the most active active volcanoes in the world, the highest of which is Mauna Loa with 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 both dormant volcanoes, the slopes of which are already covered with tropical forests, and active, smoking craters. The frozen dark volcanic lava in a huge black river slides into the ocean, blocking the roads, and forms a bizarre coastline... Where the lava enters the ocean, steam rises in the air and arches form. The unusual landscape and its desolation creates the 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 the volcano erupts, but it is very dangerous, which means that you can look at it from the photographs it is no less interesting, the flowing lava often lays down in such interesting patterns

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

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

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July 5, 2008 woke up main volcano Kilauea. Streams of hot lava flowed directly into the ocean. One of the most active volcanoes on earth today - 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 reasons. The volcano can be studied using telescopes installed on the 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 is ongoing.

Americans joke that "Hawaii is the only state that is growing in size." But, unfortunately, 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 amounted to more than 3.1 cubic meters in 2007. km. The lava covered about 117 sq. km. , the area of ​​the island during this time increased by 201 hectares.

Lava crawls to the house of Gary Slack, who in a few minutes will disappear into a flame of fire.

Gary Slack and his wife, last sitting 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.

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

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The area of ​​the island increases every second. Lava erupting into the ocean cools down and creates new formations, which 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 the Pacific Ocean. If 560 acres of volcanic rock collapses into the ocean, it will be another disaster. A grand earthquake, a tsunami may occur. And this could be the greatest of disasters, Some debris can form volcanic islands similar to the island of Molokai. It will be a catastrophe on a universal scale.

The park includes a large territory, and all heights, from sea level to the most high volcano, the top of the island, the Maunu Kea volcano, its height is 4 205 meters. It begins at a depth of 6,000 meters, it is even higher than Everest.

It is strange, but true, the Hawaiian jungle grows on the island, and just giant ferns, as well as unique species of birds live on the island. How do they live here.

This park attracts many volcanic scientists who study these amazing creations of 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 Cau desert to tropical rain forests. Approximately 50% of the park is wilderness with developed hiking... The national park has a great natural value, so in 1980 it was awarded the status of an International Biosphere Reserve, and in 1987 entered the UNESCO World Heritage List. The unique landscapes of the park attract about 2.5 million tourists every year.

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

Since the 1840s, the Kilauea volcano has developed into a tourist attraction. Local businessmen George Lycurgus and Benjamin Pitman built hotels here to receive tourists. The tourist pilgrimage grew, and in 1911 Hawaii Governor Walter Freer promulgated the Kilauea National Park bill.

However, the bill met with fierce opposition from 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 of America. In September 1960, the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park was separated from its composition.

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

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

However, the most attractive for tourists is the Kilauea volcano. It is surrounded by a 17-kilometer road, which provides comfortable access to the fantastic attractions located here. Despite the fact that Kilauea is the most active volcano on Earth, it is safe for visitors,

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

In addition to the volcanoes themselves, the national park has many caves, which are lava tubes. They were formed as follows: when the upper part of the lava solidified, its main volume continued to move, leaving behind an empty space. The most famous cave in Hawaii is the Thurston Lava Tube, which is open to the public every day.

Kelauea erupts 300,000 cubic meters of lava every day. This is enough to fill 40 thousand garbage trucks. This boiling cauldron can be deadly. Sulfuric acid emissions smell like a million rotten eggs. These vapors are hazardous to health.

Lava is constantly moving towards the ocean

The image shows the six large islands of the 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 of 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 shows that 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 volcano's caldera: “A sublime and even terrifying spectacle appeared before us. the abyss that lies below us. "

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Freezing lava: Thomas Jagger set up a museum at the edge of the caldera. Exhibits include everything related to volcanoes - scientific equipment, clothing used by volcanologists, and so on. Some of the museum's windows offer a wonderful view of the Calauela caldera and the Galemaumau crater. The museum is named after Jagger, who was also the first head of the Hawaiian Volcanic Observatory, adjacent to the museum. But the entrance to the observatory is closed for tourists.

Hawaii's majestic volcanoes, the Goddess Pele and erupting lava. Lava, where are you? ...

Location: Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Big Island of Hawaii

As we mentioned in our previous notes, on Big Island of Hawaii we drove for its volcanoes and erupting lava.

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

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

The Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park includes two volcanoes:

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

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

Both volcanoes are thyroid. Mauna loa is the largest volcano in the world, its last eruption took place in 1984, and the last strong one - in 1950. At its summit there is a volcanological station, as well as an atmospheric and solar observatory.

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

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

In this basin is located Halemaumau Crater... This crater is active, lava is bubbling in it and smoke is pouring in a high column.

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

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

The museum itself is small, where 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. There is a parking lot in front of the museum. In the evening, there are usually a huge number of people who want to see the Hawaiian lava.

Interestingly, Hawaiian volcanic eruptions are classified as “quiet”. Erupting, the streams of their incandescent lava do not explode, but slowly flow on gentle slopes, which is why this area is considered one of the safest in the world to observe.

To the question “What if we burn ourselves,” local rangers usually answer with a smile like “Don't worry, you won't be able to step on the red-hot lava, because approaching it, you will already feel the high temperature and physically cannot approach it, the body itself will not allow it ”.

Unlike volcanoes with a conical shape, Hawaiian volcanoes shield form. The reasons for this: numerous eruptions of lava, which eventually formed a gentle shield. And also the composition of the lava itself (basalt) is a lower viscosity, which makes it possible for the lava to spread over longer distances from the center of its eruption.

Mauna Loa volcano- an excellent 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 is their rift zones... They are cracks and make it possible for lava to erupt away from the center of the volcano. An example of this today is Kilauea volcano... He has muzzle 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 varied picture: from lifeless "lunar" landscapes with black solidified lava to dense green almost impenetrable forests (Hawaiian jungle) with huge giant tree ferns. There are beaches with black sand 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 happened to see something like this on one of the Canary Islands- in 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, simply glows with greenery, drowns in it. A very original and interesting picture. It is a pity that there are very few photos from that trip to the Canary Islands.

The area of ​​the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is 1308 sq. km.

It has asphalt 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 we walked along the frozen lava on foot.

This road was once "flooded" with lava, in certain places one can see "bald spots" - areas of asphalt. There were not many photographs taken there, tk. we were stomping at dusk and decided to leave the camera in the car.

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

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

Hawaiian legends present Kilauea volcano and Halemaumau crater as an abode goddess Pele- the patroness of fire and volcanoes.

According to Wikipedia: According to Hawaiians, Pele was the daughter of the goddess Haumea and her husband Moemoe. She was 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 of the long voyage of the goddess Pele in search of a new land in her canoe Honua-ia-kea. Having sailed to Hawaii, 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, Coco, Macapuu, 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 Hiiyaka, performing a beautiful dance. Subsequently, Pele asked her sisters to repeat the dance, but no one was able to do this except Hiiaka. Since then, Hiiaka has become the patroness of the hula dance, and all the prayer songs since then have been called 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 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located information centre... There you can get all the information you need with maps and brochures about hiking routes, observation platforms, roads and other useful things.

Part of the roads and hiking trails it happens to be closed for safety. And not only because of the eruption of lava, but also because of the large amount of chemical compounds released into the air that are harmful to health.

Myself information centre works anywhere from morning until five in the evening. The entrance to the Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is paid, something about $ 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 there is no way to do without a flashlight.

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

In our next post, we will talk in more detail about what interesting 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 vacation in Hawaii continued with the fact that 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 so far from the giants' 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, we certainly don't remember) a room in a large old Hawaiian house. The price was around $ 60 per night, plus breakfast for a fee. I really liked this house as well as its location. We will also tell you 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

Hawaiian Volcanoes National Park is the only one of its kind in the United States, located at a considerable distance from the mainland.
There are two active volcanoes in the park - Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
Kilauea is 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 indicated by the local Hawaiian name: "ki-lau-za" means "belching". It has a gently sloping, which is typical for Hawaiian volcanoes, a somewhat convex shield-like cone, folded by basaltic lava. The cone ends with a vast caldera - a depression, similar to a man-made quarry, more than 200 m deep, at the bottom of which there is a lava lake Galemau-mau (Halemaumau). The lake seethes and splashes, throwing out fountains of incandescent drops that can burn through both metal and stone.
Below, from the bowels of the earth, such a gigantic force presses that one lake is not enough for lava to emerge, 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 Kupayanaha - from which lava also flows.
No wonder that recent history Kilauea is overgrown with legends. Hawaiians believe 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 spray bursting from the depths of the volcano and frozen in the wind, lava spray, Pele Algae - lava bubbles that cooled and burst when lava flowed into the ocean.
Another volcano, Mauna Loa, ranks second in the world in terms of volume and height (if we take into account the underwater part) and occupies a good half of the island of Hawaii. It also has a flat top, with a noticeably elongated shape, which is reflected in the Hawaiian name of the volcano, which translates as "long mountain". The volcano is active, there are frequent eruptions - every 3-4 years. It differs from other volcanoes on the islands in that in winter its summit 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 of Mauna Loa.
The first European to set foot in 1778 was the famous English navigator James Cook (1728-1779). After Cook, Catholic missionaries became frequent here, who built several temples here.
Subsequently, planters settled here: they appreciated the fertile volcanic soil and laid out many sugarcane plantations, for which they brought workers from Asian countries.
In 1916, at the joint request of the population of the islands, scientists and the state authorities, a national park was founded and all economic activities within its boundaries were prohibited.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is located on the island of Hawaii, in the state of Hawaii, USA. There are two active volcanoes in the park - Kilauea and Mauna Loa.
Hawaiians have become accustomed 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 the amazing volcanic landscape, as well as to see wildlife local flora and fauna.
Scientists work at 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 have been organized for tourists: in the past, there were frequent cases when frivolous and arrogant travelers stayed here forever, having died in streams of hot lava.
Hawaiians living around volcanoes have developed a special rhythm of life depending on the eruptions. The soil around the volcanoes is very fertile, but during eruptions they emit tephra (volcanic ash), which hangs in the air and is life-threatening. Subsequently, it falls in the form of acid rain. At this time, the islanders stay away from volcanoes, for example, fishing... The situation is recovering rather quickly, and people return to their usual activities, cultivating the soil near volcanoes.
But there are territories here where it is completely impossible to live, like the wild Kau Desert, completely covered with hardened lava, sand and gravel, irrigated by acid rain. A local landmark - footprints in the ash of the Kau desert - remained, according to Hawaiian legends, after the eruption of 1790. It was in this year that the leader of Kauhuul crossed the desert with his warriors after defeating the chief Kamehameha, and eighty of his soldiers were suffocated by tephra.
The island of Hawaii lies almost 4 thousand km from the nearest mainland ( North America). A unique flora and fauna was formed here, which is constantly threatened by the proximity to volcanoes. Directly near the volcanoes, there is no life at all, vegetation - tropical rainforests - appears at the foot and is represented by the tree fern cybotium, tenacious shrub Freysineta and small psychotria mariniana trees. There are almost no land animals (the most common is the Biss turtle), but there are many birds, including such bright ones as the fiery and black-and-scarlet Hawaiian flower girl.
The closest 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. Close proximity to active volcano Mauna Loa has long been accustomed to the city, but it is afraid of something much more dangerous. The fact is that it is located on the shore of the bay of the same name, which has the sad fame of the "all-American capital of the tsunami": tsunamis reach here even from South American Chile and northern Aleutian Islands, sometimes claiming the lives of dozens of Hilo residents.

general information

Official status: national park.

UNESCO World Heritage List since 1987
Nearest settlement: Hilo city, 43 263 people. (2010).

Hawaii State Languages: English and Hawaiian.

Ethnic composition of the state of Hawaii: Asians (Filipinos, Japanese, Chinese) 38.6%, European Americans 24.7%, mestizo 14.7%, Hawaiians 10%, Hispanics (Puerto Ricans and Mexicans) 8.9%, African Americans and others - 3.1% (2010).

Hawaii State Religions: Christianity (Catholics and Mormons) - 28.9%, Buddhism - 9%, Judaism - 0.8%, others - 10%, outside religions - 51.3% (2000).

Currency unit: U.S. dollar.
The most important airport: international Airport Hilo.

Numbers

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

Mauna Loa volcano: volume - 75 thousand km 3, height above sea level - 4169 m, height including the underwater part - 10 168 m, summit length - 75 km, summit width - 48 km, crater with an area of ​​10 km 2 and a depth of 180 m.

Distance between craters Kilauea and Mauna Loa: 30 km.
Length of paved roads: 106 km.
Length of hiking trails: 249 km

Distance: 3900 km west of San Francisco, 4400 km west of Seattle.

Climate and weather

Average January temperature: + 19 ° C.

Average temperature in July: + 30 ° C.

Average annual rainfall: up to 2500 mm.
Relative humidity: 70%.

Economy

sights

Curious facts