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| Hawaii volcanoes National Park | |||||||||||||||||
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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, national park was established in 1969 on southern Hawaii Island, Hhawaii, which contains 2 active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea. Mauna Loa, the world's largest volcanic mass, towers 4169 m above sea level. Its summit creater, Mokuaweoweo has walls rising to about 180 m. Eruptions occur here and from the fissures and newer craters that have formed on the slopes of the mountain. Kilauea projects from the eastern slope of Mauna Loa. It rises 1111 m above sea level. The east rift of Kilauea has been erupting continuously for more than 10 years. Kilauea's crater covers more that 10 sq km and is the largest active volcano crater in the world. Its vast inner pit, Halemaumauis, sometimes is called the "House of Everlasting Fire." The park's varied landscape includes the Kau Desert on the arid leeward (eastern) slope of Kilauea and a luxuriant tree fern forest on its moist windward(western) slope. Hawaii Volcano Observatory (established in 1911) is on the rim of Kilauea Crater. Until 1961, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was combined with Haleakala National Park on Maui Island as Hawaii National Park. Area, 927.4 sq km (358.1 sq.mi.) "Hawaii (Volcanoes National Park)," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||||
| Hawaii Island | |||||||||||||||||
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Hawaii (island), island, southeastern Hawaii, largest of the Hawaiian Islands, in the central Pacific Ocean. The island is the southernmost and most easterly of the Hawaiian Islands and is separated from Maui and Kahoolawe islands by the Alenuihaha Channel. The island is triangular in shape and has a coastline of about 428 km (about 266 mi). Like the other islands of the Hawaiian chain, Hawaii was formed by volcanic action and is extremely mountainous. The dominant feature of the terrain is a series of volcanoes, linked by lava ridges that range from about 900 to 2100 m (about 3000 to 7000 ft) in height. The highest of the volcanoes is Mauna Kea, 4205 m (13,796 ft) above sea level, and now inactive. South of Mauna Kea is Mauna Loa, the most massive mountain in the world. Its height is 4169 m (13,677 ft). Kilauea, which projects from the side of Mauna Loa, is frequently active. A notable eruption of Kilauea which is included with Mauna Loa in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, occurred in 1969. Kilauea's current eruption cycle, which began in 1983, is the longest-running in modern Hawaiian history. Earthquake tremors are frequently felt in Hawaii, and seismic sea waves caused great damage in 1946 and 1960. The island has considerable scenic beauty, an equable climate, extensive transportation facilities, and numerous vacation resorts. Coffee, cane sugar, and pineapples are the leading products. Energy, aquatic, and astronomical research are also important to the economy. Hilo is the island's administrative center, largest community, and principal seaport. Area, 10,458 sq km (4038 sq mi); population (1980) 92,053; (1990) 120,317. "Hawaii (island)," Microsoft(R) Encarta(R) 97 Encyclopedia. (c) 1993-1996 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. | ||||||||||||||||
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HawaiiHawaii, the most recent state to be admitted to the United States is mad up entirely of islands in the mid-Pacific Ocean. The point closest to the mainland of the United States is about 3,365 km southwest of San Francisco. A famous tourist spot , Hawaii is called the Aloha State. The state has a mixed population consisting primarily of persons of Japanese, Filipino, Polynesian and Chinese descent as well as Caucasians. Hawaii includes about 130 islands spread across approximately 2,600 km in the Pacific Ocean. Only eight of the islands are sizable and only seven are regularly inhabited. Most of the islands were created by volcanic action. The highest point is MAUNA KEA an apparently extinct volcano on Hawaii Island. The state has 1,207 km of coastline an 1,693 km of tidal shoreline. Kahoolawe: The island is not regularly inhabited and is used by the U.S. military for target practice.Lanai: Lanai is hilly and rises to 1,027 atop a long-extinct volcano. The island is privately owned by a firm that uses th land to grow pineapples.Molokai is made up of three distinct regions, each formed by separate volcano.Oahu: Oahu is the most populated island is made up of two rugged mountain ranges (each formerly a great volcano)--the Waianae.Kauai receives high precipitation and has much lush vegetation.Hawaii's population is made up of several ethnic groups. About on-third of the people are white, and more than 60% are Asians, of which the largest nationalities are Japanese, Filipino, Hawaiian, or part-Hawaiian and Chinese. Blacks make up 2.5% of the population. | ||||||||||||||||
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