Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1915-12-21
Hawaiian Volcanoes.

The lofty volcanoes of the Hawaiisn
Islands, rising above the ocean from
900 to nearly $4,000 feet, are only the
submits Of gigantic mountain msssei
that rise abruptly from the bottom oi
the Pacific. Mauns Los, on the island
of Hawaii, stands 1865 feet above sea
level, according to the United States &c.
illogical Survey, but its slopes defceLd
beneath the sea, as shown by deep.sea
soundings, with grade fully equal to II
not greater than that OF the visible
slopes. The same is generally true oi
tho submarine slopes of the other islands,
and the depths attained by these contin.
uous slopes, within 80 to 30 miles of the
shores, vary from 900 TO 1900 feet.
Mauna Loa and Mama Kea, II 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 10 general
the Hawaiian Island group consists OF
SUBMITS of q gigantic submarine noun
tain chain which projects only its loftier
peaks and domes above the water. Or
the island of Hawaii the volcanic forces
are still In operation.
The one continuously active volcanic
vent of the island is Kilauea, far down
on The eastern flank of Mauna Loa-''the
great mou untain." 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 10 the air, but
most of them are planted upon elevated
platforms, where they appear as mere
cones of greater or less size. II Is not
yet known at what level the base OF
Mauna Loa is situated, but 1t is below
the sea-probably far below.
A VOLCANO 10 MILES IN DIAMETER
Mauna Kea-"the " bite mountain
is also colossus among volcanoes. l.
summit-13,S25 feet-is trifle higher
than that of Msuns Loa, but Its slopes
are sleeper and Its base is therefore much
smaller. The magnitude of Mauna Loa
Ia due chiefly to the great area of it's base,
which is nearly elliptical in shape, With
Q major diameter of IA miles and minor
diameter of So miles, measured at sea
level.
In the aggregate of its eruptions
Mauns Loa is also unrivalcd. Some Of
the volcanoes of Iceland have been
known to lisgorgs at a single outbreak
masses of lava fully equal 10 those Of
Mauna Loa. But such outbursts are in
frequent in Iceland, and a century has
elapsed since any Of such magnitude
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 10.
terval of about eight years. In view OF
the total quantity of material it has dis
gorged during the last century, no other
volcano is at all comparable to it.
ERUPTIoNs VIEWED WITH SAFETY.
Mauua Loa and Kilauea are in many
respects abnormal volcanoes. The most
notable feature is the singular quietness
Ct their eruptions. Rarely are these
events attended by any of that extremely
explosive action which is characteristic
of nearly all other volcanoes. Only once
or twice within the historic period have
they been accompanied by earthquakes
or subterranean rumblipgs. The vast
jets of steam blown miles high, hurling
stones, cinders, and lapilli far and wide,
filling 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 indeed represented, but only 10 a
feeble way. The lava wells forth like
water from a hot, bubbling spring, but
so mild are the explosive forces that the
observer may stand to the windward of
the grandest eruption, 80 near the source
that the heat will make bis face tipgle,
yet without danger. Ordinarily the out
break takes place without warning and
without the knowledge of the inhabit
ants, who fret become aware of it at
nightfall, when the sky is aglow and the
fiery fountains are seen playing. As the
news spreads, hundreds of people fock
to witness the sublime spectacle, dis
playing almost as much eagerness to ap
proach the scene of an eruption as the
people of other countries show to get
away from one.