Few people know that Mauna Kea, located in Hawaii, is considered higher than Everest. True, above sea level you can see only the peak of this giant, since it protrudes from the water at 4205 meters. The rest is hidden from view, so this mountain is rarely among the highest. The absolute height of the summit is 10203 meters, which exceeds the indicator of Everest by more than a kilometer.
Mauna Kea - a dangerous volcano or a calm mountain?
The volcano is classified as a shield due to its shield-like shape. In the pictures, the crater is not clearly expressed and is more often a caldera. This species appears due to frequent eruptions of high temperature liquid lava. The flow of magma then covers the entire surrounding area and forms a slightly sloping slope.
Mauna Kea appeared a million years ago, and its peak of activity ended 250,000 years ago. At the moment, researchers classify it as extinct and set the minimum values for the probability of awakening. Shield volcanoes go through several stages:
- plank - occurs from the moment the hot spot is formed;
- shield - is the most active period;
- post-shield - the form is finally formed, but the behavior is already predictable;
- inaction.
Today it is the tallest mountain in the world, most of which is under water. It is part of the Hawaiian Archipelago and one of the brightest landmarks in Hawaii. A noteworthy feature of Mauna Kea is the snow cap, which is rarely seen in tropical climates. That is why the name appeared, meaning "White Mountain".
Tourists come here not only to soak up the beach, but also in the desire to go skiing or snowboarding. The view from the mountain is stunning, so you can take beautiful photos or just walk around the surroundings, because there are several nature reserves here due to the presence of dozens of endangered endemics.
World observatory
Since Hawaii is located close to the equator, the island turns into an ideal location for astronomical observations. It is not surprising that the highest mountain in the world has become a real center for the study of heavenly bodies. Mauna Kea is located at a sufficient distance from the city, so the lights are not able to spoil the view, resulting in ideal atmospheric clarity.
Today there are 13 telescopes from different countries on the mountain. Among the most significant are the Keck Interferometer Telescope, NASA Infrared Telescopes and Japan's Subaru Telescope. If you want to take a look at this large-scale center for astronomical research, you can connect to a webcam, which allows you to watch the work of the observatories online.
Not everyone knows that Mauna Kea is known for another record. At the summit, not only are telescopes from eleven countries collected, but they are also located at the highest point, exceeding 40% of the atmospheric layer. At this altitude, relative dryness is achieved, so no clouds form, which is ideal for year-round viewing of the stars.
Flora and fauna of the giant mountain
Mauna Kea is an amazing place where there are several nature reserves. Each of them occupies a specific area depending on the height of the mountain. The summit is a rather aggressive environment with high illumination and solar radiation. It is an alpine belt characterized by low temperatures and strong winds.
The flora in this zone consists of perennial low-growing grasses, most of which are evergreen. In the Alpine Belt Reserve, they are trying to monitor the endangered species of the wolf spider, which chooses an altitude of more than 4000 meters as its range. There are also butterflies "Forest Shawl", they hide from the cold between the stones.
We advise you to read about Mont Blanc.
The second layer is occupied by the reserve that protects the Golden Sophora. These leguminous trees grow exclusively in Hawaii, but their population declined significantly after the arrival of Europeans on the island in the 18th century. Currently, the number of trees is 10% of the original forest size. The area of the reserve is estimated at 210 sq. km.
Lower elevation Mauna Kea is the third reserve, which is home to endangered plant and bird species. Ecosystems have suffered greatly due to imported large-horned animals and sheep, as well as due to significant clearing of land for sugar plantations. To preserve endangered species, it was decided to eradicate the imported species from the island.
