Hawaii Maui

Haleakala - (House of the Sun) - Volcano Crater

 10,023 ft above sea-level

Sunset

December 2000

Mooning in Maui

Haleakala - (House of the Sun) - Volcano Crater

 10,023 ft above sea-level

Moon Rise

December 2000

Haleakala National Park, eastern Maui Island, Hawaii, established 1916. The park encompasses an area of striking natural beauty and includes Puu Ulaula Observatory, a satellite-tracking station, and Haleakala Crater, a large summit depression that was incorrectly identified as a crater by early visitors. It is 700 m (2300 ft) deep and has a circumference of 34 km (21 mi) at its rim. Richly colored cinder cones of varying sizes rise from the crater floor and may be reached on foot. Clouds sweep into Haleakala and help supply moisture for the few pockets of vegetation, which include the sandalwood tree, Hawaiian snow (a lichen), and the rare silversword. Kipahulu Valley, on the volcano's eastern slope, contains a luxuriant tropical landscape. For centuries Haleakala, which means “House of the Sun,” was revered by Hawaiians as a spiritual center, and the remains of an ancient stone road have been found in the crater. Haleakala National Park originally was combined with Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on Hawaii Island as Hawaii National Park. Area, 11,473 hectares (28,350 acres).

Reviewed by: National Park Service


HOW TO CITE THIS ARTICLE
"Haleakala National Park," Microsoft® Encarta® Online Encyclopedia 2000
http://encarta.msn.com © 1997-2000 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.