Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, National park in Hawaii County, United States
Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a national park in Hawaii County that covers roughly 323,000 acres and includes two active volcanoes alongside tropical forests and hardened lava flows. Elevations range from sea level to over 13,000 feet (4,000 meters), letting visitors cross different ecosystems within short distances.
The American Congress created this area in 1916 as one of the early national parks in the United States and the first worldwide devoted to volcanic phenomena. The establishment supported geological research and laid the foundation for later volcano observatories.
Hawaiian names like Kīlauea or Halemaʻumaʻu remind visitors that this landscape held sacred meaning for native communities long before protected areas existed. People often leave flower offerings or wrapped stones at the craters, continuing practices tied to the land.
Visitors should bring warm clothing since higher elevations can feel cool while lower areas are often warm and humid. Trails may close on short notice due to volcanic activity, so checking current alerts before heading out is advisable.
Lava tubes from earlier eruptions form underground passages that are sometimes walkable and offer a look into extinct channels. Some of these tunnels extend several hundred feet (or meters) and show layers of cooled rock.
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