Physical Geography
Hawaii, a chain of islands in the middle of the North Pacific Ocean, is a state of the United States.The Hawaiian Islands are of volcanic origin. They were formed during millions of years by successive eruptions of molten lava from beneath the Pacific Ocean. Considering their height above the ocean floor, roughly 15,000 to 32,000 feet (4,600 to 9,800 m), the Hawaiian Islands rank as one of the highest mountain ranges on earth.
The island of Hawaii, the largest island in the chain, is still growing. The seven other principal islands are older, have stopped growing, and are slowly being eroded away. Older still are the many small islets northwest of Kauai. They were once large volcanic islands, but through erosion they have been reduced to mere specks in the vast Pacific.
Mauna Loa and nearby Kilauea are active volcanoes that frequently erupt. Together they make up Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
The mammoth dormant crater of Haleakala, on Maui, forms the heart of Haleakala National Park. Two volcanic mountain ranges, Koolau and Waianae, run the length of the island of Oahu. On Hawaii, flows of hardened lava are prominent and widespread. Hawaii, Maui, Oahu. Kauai, and Molokai, the largest and highest islands, are cut on their rainy, northern and eastern sides by canyons, gorges, and deep river valleys. On the islands' leeward sides the land is often dry, barren, and less eroded. Rocky coasts, high wave-cut cliffs, coral reefs, and palm-lined beaches of white, black, and colored sand line the shores.
Hawaii's state tree is the kukui.| Interesting facts about Hawaii | |||
| Haleakala has the world's largest dormant volcanic crater. The crater, on the island of Maui, measures about 20 miles (32 kilometers) around and is about 3,000 feet (914 meters) deep. | |||
| The southernmost point of the United States is Ka Lae, also called South Point, on the island of Hawaii. Ka Lae means The Point. | |||
| The Hawaiian alphabet has only 12 letters--a, e, h, i, k, l, m, n, o, p, u, and w. | |||
| Hawaii was an independent monarchy. Polynesian monarchs ruled the islands from 1795 to 1894, when the islands became a republic. No other U.S. state ever had this form of government. | |||
| The wettest place on earth is Mount Waialeale, on the island of Kauai. The average annual rainfall on the mountain is 460 inches (1,168 centimeters). | |||
The largest rivers descend the northern and eastern slopes of the higher islands. Elsewhere rivers are small—many of them flow only after rains or dry up before reaching the sea. There are no large lakes. Waterfalls are fairly numerous.
The main islands of Hawaii have a subtropical climate that is influenced by northeast trade winds blowing in from the sea and by elevation. In the high mountains a mild winter occurs. Hawaii's climate is known for an abundance of sunshine. Few severe storms occur.
Average temperatures at sea level range from about 70° F. (21° C.) during the coolest month (January) to 77° F. (25° C.) during the warmest (August). Honolulu has an annual average of 77° F. (25° C.). Its highest recorded temperature is 94° F. (34° C.); its lowest, 56° F. (13° C.). The tops of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa are usually mantled with snow.
Rainfall varies enormously. Northern and eastern mountain slopes block the trade winds and are extremely wet, while leeward slopes are dry. Waialeale peak, on Kauai, has an average of about 470 inches (11,940 mm) a year, making it the wettest place on earth. Some areas receive as little as 8 inches (200 mm) a year.
Hawaii's state flower is the yellow hibiscus.Because of varying topography and climatic conditions, Hawaii's vegetation is diverse. It ranges from verdant rain forests of tropical trees, ferns, and flowering plants to desert grass and cactus. Some of the plants are native and found nowhere else on earth. Most, however, have been introduced from other parts of the world. Palms, orchids, and hibiscus are among the state's most characteristic plants.
