The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1914-12-31
HAWAIIAN VOLCANOES
$4,000 FEET HIGH

The lofty volcanoes OF the Hawaiian
Islands, rising above the ocean from
5000 to nearly $4,000 feet, are only
the SUBMITS of gigantic mountain
masses that rise abruptly from the
bottom of the Pacific. Mauna Loa, on
the Island of Hawaii, stands 1855
feet above sea level, according TO
the United States Geological Survey,
but it slopes descend beneath the sea,
as shown by deep-sea soundings, with
a grade fully equal to If not greater
than that of the visible slopes. The
same is generally true of the sub
marine slopes Of the other islands, and
the depths attained by these continu-
Gus slopes, within 80 to so miles OF
the shores, vary from $4,000 to 10000
feet. Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea, IL
their true bases are considered to be at
the bottom of the Pacific, are therefore
mountains of as great an altitude as
Mount Everest, or approximately
10000 feet. In general the Hawaiian
Island group consists Of SUBMITS of
gigantic submarine mountain chain
which projects only its loftier peaks
and domes above the water. On the
island Of Hawaii the volcanic forces
are still in operation.
The one continuously active vol
canic vent of the island is Kilauea, far
down on the eastern bank of Mauna
Loa-"the great mountain" No
other volcano in the world approaches
Mauna Loa in the vastness of its mass
or in the magnitude of its eruptive
activity. There are many volcanic
peaks higher in the air, but most OF
them are planted upon elevated plat
forms, where they appear as mere
cones of greater or less size. 1t is
not vet known at what level the base
of Mauna Loa is situated, but 1t is
below the sea-probably far below.
A Volcano 20 Miles in Diameter
| Mauna Kea-"the white noun
tain"--is also a colossus among vol
canoes. It's summit-13,825 feet--is a
trife higher than that of Mauna Loa,
but its slopes are sleeper and its base
is therefore much smaller. The mag
nitude of Mauna Loa is due chiefly TO
the great area Of its base, which is
nearly alliptical in shape, with major
diameter of IA miles and a minor di-
ameter of So miles, measured at sea
level.
In the aggregate Of its eruptions
Mauna Loa is also unrivaled. Some OF
the volcanoes Of Iceland have been
known to disgorge at a single outbreak
masses of lava fully equal to those OF
Mauna Loa. But such outbursts are
| infrequent in Iceland, and century
has elapsed since any of such magni-
tude have occurred, though there have
been several minor eruptions. The
eruptions Of Mauna Loa are all OF
great volume and occur irregularly, at
an average interval of about eight
years. In view Of the total quantity
of material it has disgorged during the
last century, no other volcano is at all
comparable to it.
Most Violent Eruptions Viewed With
Safety
| Mauna Loa and Kilauea are in many
respects abnormal volcanoes. The most
notable feature is the singular quiet
ness Of their eruptions. Rarely are
these events attended by any OF that
extremely explosive action which is
80 81 Of aNlu "a
canoes. Only once or twice within
the historic period have they been ac-
companied by earthquakes or subter-
ranean rumblings. The vast jets OF
steam blown miles high, hurting
stones, cinders, and lapilli far and
wide. filing the heavens with vapor
and smoke, and hailing down ashes
and fragments over the surrounding
regions, have never been observed
here. Some action Of this sort is in
deed represented, but only in a feeble
way. The lava wells forth like water
from hot, bubbling spring, but 50
mild are the explosive forces that the
observer may stand 10 the windward
Of the grandest eruption, 50 near the
source that the heat will make his
face Jingle, yet without danger Or
dinarily the outbreak takes place
without warning and without the
knowledge Of the inhabitants, who
first become aware Of il at nightfail,
when the sky is aglow and the fiery
fountains are seen playing. AS the
news spreads, hundreds Of people flock
to witness the sublime spectacle, dis
playing almost as much eagerness 70
approach the scene Of an eruption az
the people Of other countries show %
! get away from one