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Kilauea volcano,
on the southernmost Island
of Hawaii, is one of
the most active on Earth. It predominantly erupts
basaltic lava in effusive eruptions, although occasionally it experiences
explosive eruptions as well. Kilauea sits on
the southeasten side of the Big Island of Hawaii,
resting on the flanks of its larger neighbor volcano Manua
Loa. Kilauea stands just under 4200 feet
tall at it's highest point. Kilauea
has a 165m deep circular caldera at its summit that measures 3x5km (or 6x6
km, including the outermost ring faults). It is said that Kilauea
is the home to Pele, the
volcano goddess of ancient Hawaiian legends.
The current eruption of Kilauea (known as the Pu`u `O`o Eruption) started in
Jan. 1983 and as of January 2000, had produced 1.9 km3of lava, had
covered 102 km2, and had added 205 hectares to Kilauea's southern
shore. In the process, lava flows unfortunately destroyed 181 houses and
resurfaced 13 km of highway with as much as 25 m of lava. It has also
destroyed the National Park visitor center and a 700 year-old Hawaiian temple
("Waha'ula heiau").
There are no signs that the current eruption is slowing or will come to an
end anytime soon. Kilauea shares the Hawaiian hot spot with its larger active
sibling Mauna Loa and with Loihi seamount.
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