Page 1376 - Dive the Seas and More-2
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However, towns peoples’ prayers were MAUNA LOA By far the world’s largest
answered as it abruptly stopped. mountain, Mauna Loa is considered one
of the most potentially dangerous
MAUNA LOA TRAIL Extremely volcanoes in the world. Towns were
challenging 7.5-mile hike from the Mauna destroyed by the volcano in 1926 and
Loa Lookout to a cabin at Red Hill, 1950, and in 1984 streaming lava from
10,035 feet (3058m) high, and then 11.6 Mauna Loa’s most recent eruption nearly
miles more to the primitive Mauna Loa reached Hilo. One of the world’s most
summit cabin at 13,250, where the sub- active volcanoes, 98% of its surface is less
arctic climate can make you freeze, snowy than 10,000 years old.
whiteouts happen any day of the year, and
altitude sickness is common. The route AINAPO TRAIL Extreme hikers climb
follows the Northeast Rift Zone and Mauna Loa's uplands along its southwest
provides distant views of 5 volcanoes. slope. It is 20.4 mi (33 km) to the park
The alpine stone desert begins at 9000 feet boundary. Hikers follow stone cairns
(2953m), and leads across many-colored across recent lava flows, pastures, forests,
fields of cinder, a-a, and pahoehoe to the and then the alpine stone desert. Register
Mokuaweoweo Caldera. The round trip is with Hawaii Div. of Forestry & Wildlife
a 3 to 4 day ordeal. Registration with the at (808) 974-4221 to hike the lower trail,
National Park Visitor Center is required. and with National Park Rangers at (808)
The trail begins where Mauna Loa Road 985-6000 to go to the summit. The
ends. Info: (808) 985-6000. trailhead is near the 40.5 mi mark on Hwy.
MAUNA LOA LOOKOUT Spectacular 11.FOOTPRINTS IN ASH There are
view and picnic at 6662 feet (2031m) local accounts that tell a story of Hawaiian
elevation. The drive up is 11 miles, 8 warriors that were overcome by a hot,
miles of which are on a one-lane road. pyroclastic gas and ash explosion in 1790,
killing them all. Other warriors who came
KILAUEA The most active volcano in through, finding their dead brethren, left
the world. Eruptions at Kilauea occur their footprints in the fresh Kau desert ash
primarily from the summit caldera or to be preserved until a geologist
along the East or Southwest rift zones that accidentally discovered them in
extend from the caldera to the sea. 1919.HOME OF PELE Since ancient
Kilauea erupted 45 times during the 20th times Kilauea Caldera and the
century. The volcano has been erupting Halemaumau Crater have been revered as
virtually continuously since 1983 from a the Home of Pele, the sacred Hawaiian
cone called Puu Oo, which is located on fire goddess who is the living deity of
the East Rift Zone. Hawaii's volcanoes. It is said that Pele
controls the limitless powers of creation
with her molten strength and unearthly
