Haleakala
| Haleakalā Volcano, East Maui | |
|---|---|
 Looking into Haleakalā | |
| Elevation: | 10,013 ft (3,052 m) |
| Latitude: | 20° 42′ 26.33″ N |
| Longitude: | 156° 15′ 22.25″ W |
| Location: | Maui, Hawaii, USA |
| Range: | Hawaiian Islands |
| Type: | Shield volcano |
| Age of rock: | < 1.1 Myr |
| Easiest route: | paved highway |
Haleakalā or East Maui Volcano is a massive shield volcano that forms more than 75% of the Hawaiian Island of Maui.
History
Early Hawaiians applied the name Haleakalā ("house of the sun") to only the summit area. This is the site where the demigod Maui was said to have snared the sun and forced it to slow its journey across the sky in order to lengthen the day. In modern times, the term has become synonomous with the entire East Maui volcano.
From the summit one looks down into a massive depression some 11.25 km (7 mi) across, 3.2 km (2 mi) wide, and nearly 800 m (2,600 ft) deep. The surrounding walls are steep and the interior mostly barren-looking with a scattering of volcanic cones. At about 32 km (20 mi) in circumference, Haleakala is the worlds largest dormant volcanic crater.
It is thought that Haleakala last erupted around 1790. The crater may be the result of erosion by the streams that cut the two large gaps to either side of the depression.
National Park
Surrounding and including the crater is Haleakala National Park, a 28,655 acre (115.963 km²) park of which 19,270 acres (77.983 km²) are wilderness. The park ncludes the crater, Kipahulu Valley, and the Oheo Pools. On the summit, there are two main trails: Sliding Sands Trail and Halemau‘u Trail. The temperature near the top tends to vary between about 40°F (5°C) and 60°F (16°C) and, especially given the thin air and the possibility of dehydration at that elevation, the walking trails can be more challenging than one might expect.
Research
Because of the remarkable clarity, dryness, and stillness of the air, and its location above one-third of the atmosphere, the summit of Haleakala (like Mauna Kea) is one of the most sought-after locations in the world for ground-based telescopes. As a result of the geographic importance of this obervational platform, experts come from all over the world to take part in research at "Science City", an astrophysical complex operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, the University of Hawaii, The Smithsonian Institution, the Air Force, the Federal Aviation Agency, and others.
Some of the telescopes operated by the US Department of Defense are involved in researching man-made (e.g. spacecraft, satellites, rockets) rather than celestial objects. The astronomers on Haleakala are concerned about increasing light pollution as Maui's population grows.
Transportation
A well traveled, modern road leads all the way to the top of this spectacular mountain. There is an entrance fee to the summit and Kipahulu area.
References
- Macdonald, Gordon A., and Agatin T. Abbott. (1970). Volcanoes in the Sea. University of Hawaii Press, Honolulu. 441 p.
External links
- Haleakala National Park (http://www.nps.gov/hale/)
- Geology of Haleakalā (http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanoes/haleakala/)
- Photos of Haleakala National Park - Terra Galleria (http://www.terragalleria.com/parks/np.haleakala.html)