Mauna Loa, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, USA

Mauna Loa is a large shield volcano located within Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park on the island of Hawaiʻi, the largest and southeasternmost island in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The island and surrounding volcanic landscape sit in the central North Pacific Ocean and are part of the United States.

Mauna Loa is one of the five major volcanoes that make up the Island of Hawaiʻi, alongside Mauna Kea, Kīlauea, Hualālai, and Kohala. It is among the largest volcanoes on Earth by volume. However, it is not the highest peak on the island -Mauna Kea is higher, by roughly 125 feet. Mauna Loa’s summit elevation is about 13,681 feet (4,169 meters), with a prominence nearly equal to its elevation since it rises directly from sea level. The distance between the summits of Mauna Loa and Mauna Kea is about 25-30 miles (40–50 km). 

The volcano is about 700,000 years old and remains active, with a long history of eruptions continuing into modern times. Mauna Loa is a broad shield volcano with relatively gentle slopes, which allows lava flows to travel long distances rather than steep, fast descents. The surrounding region includes additional protected natural areas such as Kipahoehoe Natural Area Reserve and Kaʻū Forest Reserve, among others, forming part of the broader volcanic and ecological landscape of southern Hawaiʻi.