New Delhi: Volcanoes can wreak immense destruction, with history replete with examples of cities and smallest settlements being wiped out by eruptions. Hence, volcanoes should remain dormant, or that is what we hope. But there are some active volcanoes on this planet which are so massive that their eruptions can have far-reaching consequences even in this age of technological advancements. Here, the question comes: Which is the largest active volcano in the world? The answer is Mauna Loa, situated in the United States. In this article, we will learn more about it.
Know about Mauna Loa, the world’s largest active volcano
Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on this planet is one of five volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii in the US in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest active volcano both in terms of volume and mass and was also considered the largest volcano ever till the discovery of the much larger Tamu Massif. A shield volcano, Mauna Loa has gentle slopes and its volume has been estimated to be 18,000 cubic miles while its height is about 125 feet shorter than that of Mauna Kea, its neighbour. Also, its lava eruptions are silica-poor and very fluid, mostly non-explosive.
Mauna Loa is a Hawaiian name which means ‘Long Mountain’ and it has erupted 34 times since 1843 when its eruption was well documented for the first time. Overall, it has been possibly erupting for at least 700,000 years. Since 1868, it has produced large, voluminous flows of basalt that have reached the ocean eight times. In 2022, its most recent eruption took place and the lava flows came within 1.7 miles of the Daniel K. Inouye Highway. According to estimates, this active volcano will erupt again.
The volcano poses a great risk to the nearby populated places and hence has been made a part of the Decade Volcanoes program. It encourages studies of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world. Since 1912, the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory has intensively monitored it. At the Mauna Loa Observatory, observations of the atmosphere take place. The summit is located in the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park which also encompasses portions of the volcano’s southeastern and southwestern flanks and also incorporates a separate volcano named Kīlauea.
Mauna Loa, the largest active volcano on this planet is one of five volcanoes on the Island of Hawaii in the US in the Pacific Ocean. It is the largest active volcano both in terms of volume and mass. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
