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Mauna Loa is the largest active volcano on the planet. Meaning "long mountain" in Hawaiian, it is the quintessential shield volcano in its shape— signified by broad, rounded slopes. The volcano makes up roughly 51% of Hawaiʻi Island and stands 13,678 feet (4,170 m) above sea level. More impressive, however, it rises an astonishing 30,000 feet (9,144 m) from the bottom of the sea, a greater height than Mount Everest. The ocean floor actually bends under the weight of this mammoth mountain. By itself, the land mass that Mauna Loa encompasses is almost equal twice all of the other Hawaiian islands combined. Eruptions of Mauna Loa have historically been characterized by high volume flows that produce lava capable of travelling long distances, contributing to its shape. Scientists believe that 90 percent of the volcano's surface has been covered with flows that erupted within the past 4,000 years. ![]() ![]() Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843— averaging once every five years. Over a longer period of time, the past 3,000 years, its estimated to have erupted once every six years. We are currently in the volcano's longest quiet period since written records have been kept, as it has not erupted since 1984.
Current information:
Notable Eruptions of Mauna Loa![]() 1868 Eruption of Mauna LoaOne of the deadliest disasters in Hawaiian history ![]() 1880-1881 Eruption of Mauna LoaAn eruption that threatened the city of Hilo and saw the first known attempts at lava diversion ![]() 1950 Eruption of Mauna LoaWith blazing speed, Mauna Loa sent lava flows to the sea through what is now the Kahuku Unit of Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park ![]() 1975 Eruption of Mauna LoaThe brief but spectacular eruption of 1975 lasted less than 24 hours ![]() 1984 Eruption of Mauna LoaThe last eruption of Mauna Loa before its longest recorded period of quiet |
Last updated: January 28, 2021