In 1983, lava flows from the Kilauea volcano began to encroach upon the Royal Gardens area on the island of Hawaii. Over the next eight years, slow rivers of molten rock covered approximately 875 acres of land and destroyed 39 houses. This was only the latest onslaught from the most active volcano on Earth, Kilkauea, which has been erupting almost continuously for 200 years. The lavas of Kilauea, one of five volcanoes that form the island of Hawaii, are building the loftiest mountain on Earth. From the ocean floor to the island’s highest point, Hawaii is 10,150 meters tall, or 1,296 meters taller than Mount Everest.
Topic: Earth Science
Keywords: Volcanoes--Hawaii, Kilauea Volcano (Hawaii), Lava, Volcanism, Volcanic eruptions