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Global Volcanism Program | Image GVP-09404

The city of Honolulu drapes the lower flanks of the massive Koolau shield volcano on the island of Oahu.  Most of Koolau volcano is of Pliocene-to-Pleistocene age, but a series of late-Pleistocene to perhaps early Holocene explosive eruptions formed a chain of tuff cones, cinder cones, and spatter cones at the SE end of the island.  The largest of these is the Diamond Head tuff cone (lower right), which forms a dramatic backdrop to the city of Honolulu.  Photo by Jeff Plaut, 1990 (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, courtesy of Richard Fiske, Smithsonian Institution).

The city of Honolulu drapes the lower flanks of the massive Koolau shield volcano on the island of Oahu. Most of Koolau volcano is of Pliocene-to-Pleistocene age, but a series of late-Pleistocene to perhaps early Holocene explosive eruptions formed a chain of tuff cones, cinder cones, and spatter cones at the SE end of the island. The largest of these is the Diamond Head tuff cone (lower right), which forms a dramatic backdrop to the city of Honolulu.

Photo by Jeff Plaut, 1990 (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, courtesy of Richard Fiske, Smithsonian Institution).

Creative Commons Icon This image is made available under the Public Domain Dedication CC0 license, but proper attribution is appreciated.


Koolau