Cecille's Creativity

The highest active volcanoes on land are in the Andes, in South America. But even larger volcanoes rise from the floor of the Pacific Ocean and form the islands of Hawaii.

Mauna Loa, on Hawaii, is probably the largest active volcano in the world. It rises 13,681 feet above sea level, but its base is 17,000 feet below sea level. This base is roughly oval in shape: 73 miles long and 53 mile across. So a colossal amount of volcanic materials forms this mountain.

The lava from Hawaiian volcanoes is very liquid and flows for long distances. Mauna Loa erupts about every 3 1/2 years. Kilauea Crater, southeast of the main volcano, is filled with a red-hot lava lake called Halemaumau, "The Fire Pit."

Volcanoes in the Andes reach higher above sea level than Mauna Loa. Ojos del Salada, on the border of Argentina and Chile is 22,589 feet high.