Hawaii is the most recent state to become part of the United States. It is made up of a group of islands in the Pacific Ocean, some 2,400 miles south west of California. The state includes eight large and many small islands, and has a total area of about 6,420 square miles.
According to Hawaiian legend; there was a volcano goddess called Pele who formed the islands. From time to time Pele returns to the island's craters and kindles her fires into eruptions.
The strange fact is that the Hawaiian Islands are actually the tops of great volcanoes which have been thrust up from the bottom of the ocean. For example, the island of Hawaii ("the Big Island"), which is twice as large as all the other islands together, was piled up by five volcanoes whose eruptions overlapped one another. Two of these are still active and they are still continuing the process of island building.
One of these volcanoes, Mauna Lou erupts-every few years. In 1950, it erupted for 23 days and lava flowed down into the sea. It turned the water into steam, killing many fish.
Another volcano. Mauna Kea, is dormant. It is the highest mountain in the Pacific. It rises over 4,200 metres above sea level, but its base goes down to about 5,480 metres under the ocean. If measured from underwater base, it is the world's tallest mountain.
On the island of Maui there is a volcano called Haleakala which rises to a height of about 3,055 metres. It is the world's largest inactive volcano. Its crater is about 20 miles around and some 830 metres deep.
According to Hawaiian legend; there was a volcano goddess called Pele who formed the islands. From time to time Pele returns to the island's craters and kindles her fires into eruptions.
The strange fact is that the Hawaiian Islands are actually the tops of great volcanoes which have been thrust up from the bottom of the ocean. For example, the island of Hawaii ("the Big Island"), which is twice as large as all the other islands together, was piled up by five volcanoes whose eruptions overlapped one another. Two of these are still active and they are still continuing the process of island building.
One of these volcanoes, Mauna Lou erupts-every few years. In 1950, it erupted for 23 days and lava flowed down into the sea. It turned the water into steam, killing many fish.
Another volcano. Mauna Kea, is dormant. It is the highest mountain in the Pacific. It rises over 4,200 metres above sea level, but its base goes down to about 5,480 metres under the ocean. If measured from underwater base, it is the world's tallest mountain.
On the island of Maui there is a volcano called Haleakala which rises to a height of about 3,055 metres. It is the world's largest inactive volcano. Its crater is about 20 miles around and some 830 metres deep.
