Mauna Kea Volcano

Mauna Kea Volcano

The Mauna Kea on the island of Hawaiʻi is a dormant volcano with a summit 4,207.3 meters above sea level, which makes it the highest point on the state of Hawaii and the second highest island peak on Earth. Mauna Kea has an unusually high topographic elevation for a mountain, as its wet prominence is the 15th highest in the world at 4,205 meters and its dry prominence is 9,330 meters. This dry prominence is larger than the elevation of Mount Everest, which is 8,848.86 meters above sea level, and is considered by some authorities to be the highest mountain in the world, as seen from the underwater bottom. Its high altitude, dry environment and stable airflow make the summit of Mauna Kea one of the best places in the world for astronomical observations. Since 1964, thirteen telescopes have been built at the summit, funded by eleven countries. The Mauna Kea Observatories are used to conduct scientific research that spans the entire electromagnetic spectrum. Due to its altitude, Mauna Kea has one of the most diverse biotic ecosystems in the Hawaiian archipelago. The mountain's ecosystems form concentric rings on the slopes of the mountain because of the variation in temperature and precipitation with altitude. They can be broadly divided into three parts according to altitude: alpine-subalpine, montane and basal forest. The coastline of Mauna Kea is characterized by the Hamakua Coast, a rugged terrain created by frequent landslides on the volcano's flank. The area is home to several recreation parks, among them Kalopa State Recreation Area, Wailuku River State Park and Akaka Falls State Park.