Question

What is special with Mauna Kea ( Hawaii) in the Pacific Ocean?

Answer 1

Hint: A volcano is a hole in the earth’s crust through which molten material erupts abruptly from a magma chamber below the surface. Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii. Dormant Volcanoes are those which are not extinct but have not erupted in recently and may erupt in future. For example: Mount Kilimanjaro, located in Tanzania, also the highest mountain in Africa, is known to be a dormant Volcano.

Complete Step by Step Answer: Hawaii is the youngest and largest of a series of islands which make up the Hawaiian archipelago. Mauna Kea is one of the six volcanoes that have formed the island of Hawaii.

Mauna Kea is about a million years old and has passed the most active defensive stage of life thousands of years ago. In its recent post-shield state, its lava is more dense, resulting in a steeper outline.

Mauna Kea is the elevated mountain in the Pacific Ocean. It is about 10,210 meters which is almost a mile taller than Mount Everest, according to the United States Geological Survey (USGS). Mauna Kea is unique as an astronomical observing site. The atmosphere above the mountain is dry which is significant in measuring infrared and submillimeter radiation so that the percentage of clear nights is among the highest in the world. And it is one of the decent places in the world to study the heavens.

Note: The Mauna Kea Observatories are used for scientific research. Their construction on topography is considered sacred by Native Hawaiians and goes on to be a topic of debate to this day.