Volcanoes All Over
This blog features some volcanoes I have seen, both active and extinct. I think volcanoes are very exciting because they have profound effects on the landscape. They are also dynamic. So, if the volcano is active, the appearance of the land can change dramatically. If extinct, the evidence of their existence can be very powerful.
White Island, New Zealand
White Island, New Zealand
White Island, off the North Island, New Zealand.
This acid lake is unstable. In the last few months a vent has opened on one side of the lake. It has been throwing out material for a few months.
White Island, fumarole
Visitors have to have masks ready to use in case the steam reaches them.
White Island, mud pool
Eruption from above.
Hawaiian Volcanoes
The Hawaiian islands and all the islands and sea mounts to the north-west of Hawaii were formed by the same hot spot. Hot spots are places on the earth's surface where lava erupts on a regular basis over a prolonged period of time. The plate that the islands sit on moves north-west at about 9 cm per year, moving the islands away from the hot spot. Currently, the hot spot is under the Big Island (Hawaii) and the undersea volcano of Lo'ihi. Hawaii is now the youngest island in the chain. Eventually, Lo'ihi will take on this mantle.
Hawaiian volcanoes are of the basaltic shield variety. They erupt gently sending lava down their flanks. They build the islands up and out into the sea. Mauna Kea on Hawaii is so high that it usually has snow on its peak. It is now dormant.
Lava meets the sea
Lava meets the sea.
Mauna Kea on Hawaii
Australian Volcanoes
Australia has many extinct volcanoes including some made by ancient hot spots. Good examples of these are the Glasshouse Mountains, south of the Sunshine Coast and Mt Cooroora, Mt Cooroy and
Mt Pinbarren on the northern end of the Sunshine Coast.
Glasshouse Mountains
Mt Cooroora formed by a hot spot
