Hawaii is a famous volcanic hotspot and is composed of five volcanoes. One of them is Kilauea, also known as Mount Kilauea. It is the most active shield volcano in the world, situated in the southeastern part of the island of Hawaii, United States. Across millions of years, volcanic activities formed the Hawaiian archipelago at present, these volcanoes transforming into the landscape.
Fascinating Facts about the Kilauea Volcano
It is the perfect place to uncover the most interesting facts about Kilauea eruption history.
How Was Kilauea Formed?
Like every Hawaiian volcano, Kilauea was formed as the Pacific tectonic plate moved over the Hawaiian hotspot in the Earth’s underlying mantle. Kilauea is bound by the Ka‘ū Desert (southwest), Mauna Loa volcano (west and north), a tropical fern jungle (north-northeast), and ‘Āinahou Ranch (south).
What Hawaiian Island Is Kilauea Volcano on?
- A. Big Island
- B. Long Island
- C. Niihau
- D. Moloka‘i
This volcano has emerged above sea level approximately 100,000 years ago. Did you know when Kilauea’s last eruption occurred? The most recent volcanic eruption occurred on December 20, 2020.
Kilauea Elevation
The volcano raises 1,247 -meter ( 4,091 ft) high, the mountain has fallen to form a caldera.
It Is the World’s Most Active Volcano
Kilauea’s longest period of inactivity was between 1934 to 1952. Other volcanoes that are competing to beat Kilauea are Eyjafjallajökull in Iceland, Sakurajima in Japan, and Mount Etna in Sicily.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is recognized as one of the earliest built parks in 1961. This park is famous like Crater Lake, Yellowstone, and Yosemite.
Golf Course on the Volcano
The old clubhouse is still open with a couple of rooms. Golf players visit the clubhouse to stay in overnight.
Kilauea’s Sister Volcano Is Taller Than Mount Everest
Kilauea’s sister volcano is Mauna Kea and is roughly 14,000 feet tall above sea level. From its base, the mountain is approximately 33,500 feet tall, making it a mile taller than Mount Everest and its height is 29,029 feet, as reported by the USGS.
Kilauea Has Been Exploding Continuously since 1983
According to the U.S. Geological Survey, Kilauea erupted more than 60 times, and the eruption didn’t end. It has been continuously active since 1983. On May 3, 2018, the volcano exploded for many hours after a magnitude 5.0 quake occurred on the Big Island. It is still exploding along with the East Rift Zone for more than three decades.
Kilauea Has More Than Two Dozen Craters
This volcano is different from stereotypical volcanoes that are tall with a clear peak and have a caldera on the top. Kilauea is more like a low-elevation volcano(above sea level) and has many craters that record its history of every eruption. The Kilauea caldera is known as the main crater, and ten more craters are there in the Volcano along with its East Rift Zone.
Kilauea Is Home to a Goddess of the Volcano
According to the Hawaiian myth and culture, Pele is referred to as the goddess of fire and volcano and swallows the Big Island when she is angry. Her temper is very dangerous, and she made her home in the Halema’uma’u crater. The exact name is Pelehonuamea. “She who shapes the sacred land.”
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