What is Mauna Loa?
Mauna Loa is the largest volcano in the world. It is located on Hawaii Island, in the United States of America (USA). Mauna Loa means “Long Mountain” in the Hawaiian language. It is 13,677 feet (4,169 metres) tall.
Mauna Loa is a shield volcano and one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. Its last eruption happened in 1984. It is expected to erupt again. Authorities are monitoring it to ensure that its eruption does not do any harm.
Okay, what are shield volcanoes?
Shield volcanoes are the largest volcanoes on the planet. They are almost entirely made of basalt, a kind of lava that is extremely fluid after it erupts. These volcanoes are not steep, so the lava flows down the hill easily. Shield volcanoes are named so because they look like a warrior's shield lying flat on the ground.
Fernandina in the Galapagos, Kilauea in Hawaii, Hallasan in South Korea, etc., are examples of well-known shield volcanoes. Hawaii’s Mauna Loa, a shield volcano itself, has recently started to rumble.
What is going on at Mauna Loa?
Mauna Loa last erupted in 1984 and began to wake up again in 2021 with a series of minor earthquakes. The earthquakes have increased in number in recent weeks.
According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the present activity is caused by magma movement that is still deep beneath the surface. Mauna Loa eruptions released a large amount of fast-moving lava in the past. The lava can reach Hilo and other towns on the island's east and west sides.
Are there any precautions being taken?
The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO) has begun releasing daily updates on Mauna Loa. Citizens have been asked to watch for updates from the HVO and Hawaii County Civil Defense. The volcano's peak has also been closed to visitors due to recent activity.
Residents have also been instructed to prepare a "go bag" in case of an eruption. Let’s hope that the volcano does not erupt and that if it does, the people of the region remain safe.
