Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, 209,695 acres (84,926 hectares), on Hawaii island, Hawaii; est. 1916. The park contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world—Kilauea with its fire pit, called Halemaumau, and Mauna Loa with the active Mokuaweoweo crater on its summit. The vegetation around Kilauea is varied—a few miles west of the arid Kau Desert is a lush fern jungle. Originally established as Hawaii National Park, its name was changed in 1961 after the Haleakala portion on Maui had been made a separate national park. See National Parks and Monuments (table).

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Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

National preserve, southeastern shore of Hawaii island, U.S. Established in 1916, it occupies an area of 358 sq mi (927 sq km) and includes the active volcanoes Mauna Loa and Kilauea, 25 mi (40 km) apart. Other highlights are Kau Desert, an area of lava formations near Kilauea, and a tree-fern forest that receives nearly 100 in. (2,500 mm) of annual rainfall.