Kilauea Volcano
News:
Kilauea has started erupting after 3 month pause.
What:
- It is an active shield volcano i.e. shield like volcanoes formed by cooling of highly fluid lava.
- Name meaning: ‘much spreading’ in Hawaiian.
- Features:
- Elongated dome shaped structure
- Presence of a caldera
- Presence of a lava lake
- Its slopes merge with that of adjacent volcano, Mauna Loa
- Usually non-explosive eruption
Significance:
- It is considered as one of the most active volcanic masses in the world.
How:
- It is a product of the Hawaiian hotspot.
Where:
- Within the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park in Hawaii, USA
Facts:
- Pele’s hair:
- Glass particles formed by volcanic activity.
- Forms when the cooling lava stretches into thin strands.
- These strands are lightweight and get carried to places kilometres away from the source volcano.
- Named after Hawaiian goddess of volcanoes- Pele.
