Mauna Kea

Mauna Kea (left) and Mauna Loa (right), both over 4000 m above sea level, are the world's largest active volcanoes, rising nearly 9 km above the sea floor around the island of Hawaii. This aerial view from the NW shows the contrasting morphologies of these two shield volcanoes. In contrast to the smooth profile of Mauna Loa, Mauna Kea's early shield volcano morphology is modified by the late-stage products of explosive eruptions.

Type/Process: Shield Volcano
Volcanic Status: Radiocarbon
Image Number: 035-084
Photographer: Lee Siebert (Smithsonian Institution)
Summit Elevation: 4205 meters
Latitude/Longitude: 19.82 N / 155.47 W
Timeframe: Last known eruption B.C. (Holocene)
Region: Hawaii and Pacific Ocean