Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

A Volcano Wonderland Every day on the island of Hawaii, lava seeps from a volcano on the edge of the ocean. When the lava cools, it turns into rock and makes the island a little bigger. This volcano is part of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Every year, over one million people visit Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. National parks are areas of protected land.

Volcanoes Form a Park A volcano begins when melted rock from deep inside Earth comes out through a crack in Earth's surface. When it reaches the surface, it cools and becomes solid rock. The rock builds up over time. The rock may form a mountain or even an island. This is how Hawaii's islands formed. Two of the world's most amazing volcanoes are found in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

One volcano is among the most active volcanoes on Earth. Scientists think it began forming between 300, 000 and 600, 000 years ago. It finally formed as an island 50, 000 to 100, 000 years ago.

In 1790, dozens of people were killed when it erupted. Then, in 1924, more eruptions threw huge rocks around the area.

Nearby is another volcano that is one of the biggest mountains on Earth. It covers half the island of Hawaii. This volcano has erupted many times since 1843.