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Global Volcanism Program | Image GVP-03487

Two shield volcanoes of radically different scale appear in this photo.  Mauna Ulu, a small, 120-m-high shield volcano on the east rift zone of Kilauea volcano, is dwarfed by massive Mauna Loa in the background, the world's largest active volcano.  Both volcanoes were constructed by the repetitive eruption of thin, overlapping lava flows, but over greatly differing time spans.  Maunu Ulu was built during a 5-year eruption during 1969-1974, whereas Mauna Loa grew nearly 9 km up from the sea floor over a period of a few hundred thousand years. Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1979.

Two shield volcanoes of radically different scale appear in this photo. Mauna Ulu, a small, 120-m-high shield volcano on the east rift zone of Kīlauea volcano, is dwarfed by massive Mauna Loa in the background, the world's largest active volcano. Both volcanoes were constructed by the repetitive eruption of thin, overlapping lava flows, but over greatly differing time spans. Maunu Ulu was built during a 5-year eruption during 1969-1974, whereas Mauna Loa grew nearly 9 km up from the sea floor over a period of a few hundred thousand years.

Copyrighted photo by Katia and Maurice Krafft, 1979.

Copyrighted image used with permission. All Rights Reserved. Contact photographer for any usage requests.


Kilauea