Why does Hawaii have more volcanic activity than some other locations on Earth?
Why does Hawaii have more volcanic activity than some other locations on Earth? One explanation that scientists have proposed for hot-spot volcanism is that it occurs near unusually hot parts of Earth's mantle, the layer of the planet below the crust. In the case of the Hawaiian Islands, the Pacific Plate is continually moving to the northwest over the Hawaiian hot spot.
What makes Hawaii unique from other states?
One of world's longest island chains, Hawaii is the only U.S. state completely made up of islands. But only 7 of its 132 islands are inhabited: Hawaii (also known as the Big Island), Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, and Niihau. The Hawaiian Islands are volcanic islands.
What part of Hawaii has the most active volcanoes?
The Big Island of Hawai'i easily has the most active volcanoes in Hawaii. In fact, four of the five active volcanoes can be found on the Big Island.
Why is Hawaii one of the most unique geological places on earth?
The Big Picture. Hawai'i is located thousands of kilometers from the nearest plate boundary, but it is volcanically active and geologically very young. The oceanic crust on which the Hawaiian Islands reside is nearly 90 million years old, yet the oldest of these islands was formed a mere 5 million years ago.