COOL VOLCANO ERUPTION IN HAWAII

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2TVLUBRfHgM&feature=fvsr to see an awesome video clip of lava spewing out from a volcano in Hawaii!! Some see it as a deadly natural disaster whereas others think of it as beautiful. What do you think?

The Old Volcano: Kohala

Kohala Volcano is the oldest of Hawaii's five volcanoes and probably emerged above sea level more than 500,000 years ago. Toward the end of its shield-building stage 250,000 to 300,000 years ago, an enormous landslide removed the volcano's northeast flank. Twenty kilometers wide at the shoreline, the landslide cut back to the summit of the volcano, which at the time was just over 1,000 m higher than today, and traveled 130 km across the ocean floor. The famous sea cliffs of the Kohala shoreline mark the topmost part of the headwall of this ancient landslide.

Lava that flowed from Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa buried the southern flank of Kohala.

Hazardous Volcano: Haleakala (East Maui)

East Maui's long eruptive history and recent activity indicate that the volcano will erupt in the future. The oldest lava flow exposed on East Maui is about 1.1 million years in age. It is part of a sequence of flows emplaced near the end of shield building on East Maui. The time estimated to build a volcano from ocean floor to the end of its shield-building stage is thought by some scientists to be about 0.6 million years. East Maui volcano probably began its growth about 2.0 million years ago. East Maui, or Haleakala, is considered a hazardous volcano as a volcanic line of vents is the zone of greatest hazard for future lava flows and cindery ash. Many people believe that this volcano is definitely going to erupt again soon.

Hualalai's Energy

This is Hualalai, a volcano in Hawaii which has not erupted for a very long time. Scientists believe that the energy vreated by Hualalai can be used as a geothermal supply for the west side of Hawaii.

Volcanoes of Hawaii

Hawaii is a big island which is totally made up of volcanoes. A few of them are called Kohala, Mauna Kea, Hualalai, Mauna Loa and Kilauea.

This majestic snow-capped Mauna Kea is in fact the second tallest volcano in Hawaii. Mauna Kea has erupted several times in the past 10,000 years, but the most recent eruption was 3,500 years ago. However, it is possible that it will erupt again some day.

Kohala is another volcano which might actually be extinct, since it has not erupted for 60, 000 years. It emerged from the sea 500, 000 years ago, but it is now slowly slowly sinking back into the sea. More than 200,000 years ago, a massive landslide occurred thus causing magnificent cliffs to form on the flanks of the volcano, and they can still be seen today.

Kilauea is one of the most active volcanoes in the world. Kilauea has continuous eruption during the 19th and 20th centuries and has had 34 eruption cycles since 1952. The last one started in 1983, and it continues even today. Also, it has no indication of stopping in the near future.

Hualalai's last eruption was between 1800 to 1801. This volcano is situated in the west of Hawaii. Houses, resorts, buildings and many people live near the flanks of Hualalai. Massive earthquakes hit in 1929, thus causing scientists to believe that an eruption will occur in the next 100 years.