Hawaii consists of a string of islands, or an archapelago. Kilauea is located on
one of these islands, the central Hawaii island. Kilauea is one of the world's most active
volcanic craters. Craters are formed either by the massive collapse of material during
volcanic activity, by unusually violent explosions, or later by erosion during dormancy
(Comptons). It is situated on the southeastern slope of the great volcanic mountain
Mauna Loa. Its elevation is 1111 m (3646 ft.) above sea level. The crater has an area of
about 10 sq. km., which forms a great cavity in the side of the mountain. Volcanic
activity recently has been restricted to an inner crater called Halemaumau. Halemaumau
measures more than 900 m (about 3000 ft.) across and has a depth of about 400 m (about
1300 ft.). Kilauea has erupted at least once a year since 1952. The volcano spews an
average of 525,000 cubic yards of lava a day and by 1995 had added about 500 acres of
new land to the island (Encarta '98). By June 1989, it had destroyed the visitors center at
the national park, a stretch of Kalapana Highway, and more than 65 houses by 1990.
Kilauea is located on a hot spot under the island, and the magma is thought to
come from a depth of at least 50 km. below the surface. A hot spot is an area of volcanic
activity near the center of two lithospeheric plates. Normally, lava streams constantly into
the floor of the crater from subterranean sources which either cools and hardens, or
accumulates until it drains off into other subterranean passages. When greater volcanic
activity occurs, the lava is subjected to sudden changes of level, where it may escape from
vents on the lower slope toward the sea.
Kilauea is classified as a shield volcano. Shield volcanoes have a low, broad
profile created by highly fluid basalt flows that spread over wide areas. The fluid basalt
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