Mauna Loa

an active volcano in Hawaii, on S central Hawaii Island. Height: 4171 m (13 684 ft.)

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

The following article is from The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (1979). It might be outdated or ideologically biased.

Mauna Loa

(Hawaiian literally “long mountain”), an active shield volcano on the island of Hawaii. Elevation, 4,170 m. If the elevation of its underwater foundation, which lies at a depth of about 4,500 m, is taken into account, it is the earth’s highest volcano and largest in volume. Mauna Loa is composed of basalts. It has gentle slopes and a crater measuring about 6.5 km in circumference. Eruptions are frequent, with the last powerful one occurring in 1950. During eruptions a lava lake appears in the crater and lava flows pour out onto the slopes through cracks. The windward northern and northeastern slopes are covered by greatly diminished tropical rain forests. The leeward slopes are covered by sparse forests and savannas. There are plantations of pineapples, bananas, sugar-cane, and coffee trees on the volcano. It is the site of the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, where tropical flora is preserved. A volcanologic station is situated on Mauna Loa.

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References in periodicals archive

The other locations on the Hawaiian Islands where perennial ice has been documented are two lava tube caves: Mauna Loa Icecave (MLIC) and Arsia Cave (Pflitsch et al.

THE COLDEST PLACES IN HAWAII: The Ice-Preserving Microclimates of High-Altitude Craters and Caves on Tropical Island Volcanoes: Permafrost and perennial cave ice are preserved in Hawaii as a result of microclimates

"This is the perfect place to grow coffee," says Norman Sakata, pointing generally up the slope to where the top of Mauna Loa is robed in mist.

Hawaii's Climate Zones

A barren north slope of the Mauna Loa volcano, on the island of Hawaii, was chosen as its terrain resembles Mars.

Just back from Mars.. now I need a holiday; Scientists end year-long simulation of life on Red Planet

For the past year, the group in the dome on a Mauna Loa mountain could go outside only while wearing spacesuits.

Scientists exit Hawaii dome after yearlong Mars simulation

The group lived on the Mauna Loa mountain and could go out only wearing spacesuits.

Scientists exit Hawaii dome after year-long Mars simulation

Other consequences resulting from the higher temperatures include the highest concentration to date of greenhouse gases recorded atop Mauna Loa on Hawaii, and a damaging algae bloom spreading from the central California coast to British Columbia in Canada.

NOAA: 2015, warmest year on record, has had grave consequences

Mauna Loa in Hawaii, a shield volcano, is one of the world's largest and most active volcanoes.

Nature wonder: Volcanoes

Formerly common in semi-dry 'Ohi'a (Metrosideros polymorpha) forest on the south and west slopes of the Mauna Loa and Hualalai volcanos, 'alala began to steadily decline in the late 19th Century.

Restoring 'alala to the Hawaiian forest

The ale is made from two-row wheat malt, hopped with Millennium, Willamette and Hallertauer and fermented with an indigenous yeast discovered near the Mauna Loa Volcano on Hawaii Island.

Kona brews ale with native Hawaiian honey

According to company officials, this is one of the first initiatives led by parent company Hawaiian Host, a leading brand and producer of chocolate covered macadamia nuts, which acquired Mauna Loa from The Hershey Co.

Health nuts

Brands include Lego, Hershey Co.'s Mauna Loa, Sanrio Co.'s Hello Kitty, Sunglass Hut and Dole.

Hawaii gets its first flagship store