So yesterday I talked about Mount
McKinley, which is the tallest mountain, measured base to peak, above sea
level. However, there is a mountain even taller than McKinley, it’s just that
most of the mountain is below sea level: Mauna Kea, in Hawaii. Measuring a
whopping 33,100 feet from its underwater base to its peak, it is easily the
tallest mountain in the world when you aren’t only counting above water
measurements. (By the way, I think it’s cool that the world’s tallest mountains
based on both above and below water measurements are not only both in the
United States, but in the two noncontiguous states of Alaska and Hawaii!)
Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano,
which last erupted 4,600 years ago. It now has an alpine climate at its summit
and forest at its base. Because it has a high altitude at its peak (13,803 feet
above sea level), is near the equator, has a dry environment, and has stable
airflow, it is one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observation.
Its peak is above 40% of Earth’s atmosphere and water vapor, and Hawaii has low
light pollution. Mauna Kea’s summit hosts the world’s largest astronomical
observatory. Not only is Mauna Kea one of nature’s beauties itself, but it is a
vantage point to see more of nature’s beauty out in space!
Mauna Kea is accessible by hiking
trails, and an access road which is paved up to 9,199 feet. Although care must
be taken to adjust to the increasing altitude on the way up, the Mountain is
much more accessible than McKinley or Everest: between 5,000-6,000 people visit
its summit each year!
Read more about Mauna Kea: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mauna_Kea; http://www.itsokaytobesmart.com/post/63954119714/mauna-kea-heavens-time-lapse; http://www.ifa.hawaii.edu/mko/about_maunakea.shtml.
Xoxo,
Diana
