Download Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

What year did the Park become
an official National Park and
why?
• On August 1, 1916, The Hawaii Volcanoes became a
National Park. President Woodrow Wilson signed the
country's 13th national park into existence.
• It became a National Park because of its huge land
features such as the Mauna Loa volcano. These sites
are accessible by tourists because the "Eruptions are
much gentler" in this area. It is an area where people
can walk on the hardened lava. Also, during volcano
activity, people can actually view active lava flows.
U.S. Map
HAWAII VOLCANOES NP
Hawaii Volcanoes National
Park Map
Topographic Map
What environmental issues are
affecting the park?
The volcanoes are releasing sulfur dioxide gas into the atmosphere.
This gas creates fog which is called volcanic smog. The fog keeps
the sunlight from getting to the plants so they can grow. This has
caused dangerous pollution that is hazardous to breathe. Many of
the plants that used to grow in abundance have now stopped
growing. Many of the plant species only exist in Hawaii so they can
face extinction.
Animal habitats are being effected as well. When there are new lava
flows, they continue to destroy whatever is remaining in the path of
the lava. Many plants may become extinct because there are not as
many as there used to be and the animals continue to eat whatever
is remaining for food. Once the plants stop growing or become
extinct, animals that eat the plants will eventually die because they
will have no food. Hawaii is the number one state for extinctions and
endangered species.
What special landforms or
features are inside your park?
LAVA TREES
PIT CRATERS
CINDER CONES
VOLCANOES
VOLCANIC ROCKS
How is technology used to help,
preserve and maintain the
park?
Scientists are using computer software to be able to predict when a
volcano might erupt next. They can use this information to protect
humans and possibly some areas of plants.
They use laser technology that can tell scientists how an area has
changed over time so they can predict where the best place would
be to plant new plants in an area where they predict might not be
damaged by lava.
What types of rocks can be
found inside the park?
There are several different types of volcanic rocks that are found in
the Hawaii Volcano National Park such as:
Volcanic bomb
Volcanic bombs are lava
fragments. Most are large
and round. They are usually
found as 64 mm in
Diameter.
Picritic Basalt
Picritc Basalt is formed
In high temperatures. It forms
2 miles underground in the
Magma chamber.
Pele’s Tears
Pele’s tears is formed
by small bits of molten
Lava that soon solidifies
And forms tiny glass
Particles called Pele’s
Tears.