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Global Volcanism Program | Image GVP-03573

Hawaii's two largest shield volcanoes are Mauna Loa (in the background to the S) and Mauna Kea. Mauna Loa has the classic low-angle profile of a shield volcano constructed by repetitive eruptions of thin, overlapping lava flows. Mauna Kea’s profile has been modified by late-stage explosive eruptions that constructed a series of cones at the summit. Photo by Don Swanson (U.S. Geological Survey).

Hawaii's two largest shield volcanoes are Mauna Loa (in the background to the S) and Mauna Kea. Mauna Loa has the classic low-angle profile of a shield volcano constructed by repetitive eruptions of thin, overlapping lava flows. Mauna Kea’s profile has been modified by late-stage explosive eruptions that constructed a series of cones at the summit.

Photo by Don Swanson (U.S. Geological Survey).

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Galleries: Shield Volcanoes

Keywords: shield volcano


Mauna Loa

Mauna Kea