Mauna Loa

Mauna Loa
Mauna Loa as seen from the air. Hualālai is visible in the background.
Highest point
Elevation	13,679 ft (4,169 m)[1]
Prominence	7,079 ft (2,158 m)[2]
Listing	US highest major peaks 66th US most prominent peaks 38th Hawaii highest major peaks 2nd
Coordinates	19°28′46″N 155°36′10″W / 19.47944°N 155.60278°W / 19.47944; -155.60278
Geography
Mauna Loa Hawaii, U.S. Show map of Hawaii (island) Mauna Loa Mauna Loa (Hawaii) Show map of Hawaii
Parent range	Hawaiian Islands
Topo map	USGS Mauna Loa
Geology
Rock age	700,000–1 million[3]
Mountain type	Shield volcano
Volcanic arc/belt	Hawaiian-Emperor seamount chain
Last eruption	November 27, 2022 - December 13, 2022
Climbing
First ascent	Ancient times
Easiest route	Ainapo Trail

Mauna Loa (/ˌmɔːnə ˈloʊ.ə, ˌmaʊnə -/, Hawaiian: [ˈmɐwnə ˈlowə]; lit. 'Long Mountain'^[1]) is one of five volcanoes that form the Island of Hawaii in the U.S. state of Hawaii in the Pacific Ocean. Mauna Loa is Earth's largest active volcano^[1] by both mass and volume. It was historically considered to be the largest volcano on Earth until Tamu Massif was discovered to be larger.^[4] Mauna Loa is a shield volcano with relatively gentle slopes, and a volume estimated at 18,000 cubic miles (75,000 km³),^[5] although its peak is about 125 feet (38 m) lower than that of its neighbor, Mauna Kea.^[6] Lava eruptions from Mauna Loa are silica-poor and very fluid, and tend to be non-explosive.

Mauna Loa has likely been erupting for at least 700,000 years, and may have emerged above sea level about 400,000 years ago. Some dated rocks are 470,000 years old.^[7] The volcano's magma comes from the Hawaii hotspot, which has been responsible for the creation of the Hawaiian Island chain over tens of millions of years. The slow drift of the Pacific Plate will eventually carry Mauna Loa away from the hotspot within 500,000 to one million years from now, at which point it will become extinct.

Mauna Loa's most recent eruption began on November 27, 2022, and ended on December 13, 2022. It was the first eruption since 1984.^[8][9] No recent eruptions of the volcano have caused fatalities, but eruptions in 1926 and 1950 destroyed villages, and the city of Hilo is partly built on lava flows from the late 19th century.

Because of the potential hazards it poses to population centers, Mauna Loa is part of the Decade Volcanoes program, which encourages studies of the world's most dangerous volcanoes. Mauna Loa has been monitored intensively by the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory since 1912. Observations of the atmosphere are undertaken at the Mauna Loa Observatory, and of the Sun at the Mauna Loa Solar Observatory, both located near the mountain's summit. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park covers the summit and portions of the southeastern and southwestern flanks of the volcano, and also incorporates Kīlauea, a separate volcano.