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Haleakala National Park

Pictures by QT Luong

More pictures of Haleakala Next pictures: Hawaii Volcanoes
[1 : Overview]
[2 : Clouds]
[3 : Crater]
[4 : Crater Vegetation]
[5 : Birds and Hosmer Grove]
[6 : Ocean and Oheo Gulch]
[7 : Kipahulu]
[8 : Pipiwai trail]
[9 : People and Structures]
[All]

Large Format photos of Haleakala National Park · Panoramic photos of Haleakala National Park

Haleakala National Park, on the island of Maui, born from the same volcanic hot spot as Hawaii, preserves an older and more eroded volcano. It is spans a large variety of enviroments, and is also home to unique life species.

For 81 million years, a stationary plume of magma has been rising from a hot spot within the earth's mantle. As the Pacific plate moves northeswestward over this spot, new land which forms the chain of Hawaiian islands is created. While the volcano is still active on the big island of Hawaii, the fire has left Haleakala for a few centuries. Erosion has carved the summit of the volcano into an immense basin (called improperly "the crater" since it was not formed during the eruption) dotted with distinctive cinder cones.

Only a few plants have adapted to the harsh conditions created by the high elevation, porous lava soil, and wind, most notably the Haleakala silversword, which is found on the whole earth only here, with a total range of less than 2500 acres. Below this area, plants have had a better chance to establish themselves on the steep and lush mountain slopes, covering them with a subalpine shrubland, rain forests on the windward slopes, dry forest on the leeward slopes, and coastal habitats, all encoutered on a road which goes from near sea level to 10000 feet in 38 miles, one of the steepest in the world. Visitors can take in one of the most spectacular sunrise views anywhere on the edge of the crater, in near freezing temperatures, before relaxing in the pools of a tropical lush paradise in the sliver of the Park which reaches the ocean.

[CLICK on any picture to see a larger image and details, to add to selection, to order, and to download wallpaper.]

Mauna Kea between clouds, seen from Halekala summit. Haleakala National Park ( color) Sun rising, Haleakala Crater. Haleakala National Park ( color) Haleakala crater and clouds at sunrise. Haleakala National Park ( color) Haleakala crater from Kalahaku at sunrise. Haleakala National Park ( color) Colorful cinder in Haleakala crater. Haleakala National Park ( color) Volcanic scenery with colorful ash inside Haleakala crater. Haleakala National Park (Panoramic color) Silversword, an endemic plant, in Haleakala crater near Red Hill. Haleakala National Park ( color) Argyroxiphium sandwicense (Silversword) detail. Haleakala National Park ( color) Silverswords over dark cinder slopes,  Haleakala craterl. Haleakala National Park ( color) Waves breaking on volcanic rocks. Haleakala National Park ( color) Coast at Kipahulu, morning. Haleakala National Park ( color) Oho o Stream, sunrise. Haleakala National Park ( color) Waterfall in Ohe o gorge, evening. Haleakala National Park ( color) Pipiwai Stream, high water. Haleakala National Park ( color) Pandanus trees  (Hawaiian Hala). Haleakala National Park ( color) Maile-Scented Fern (Phymatosorus scolopendria). Haleakala National Park ( color) Lush Kipahulu mountains. Haleakala National Park ( color) Makahiku Falls. Haleakala National Park ( color) Waimoku Falls, more than 300 feet high. Haleakala National Park ( color) Trail through bamboo canopy. Haleakala National Park ( color) Ohelo (Blueberry family). Haleakala National Park ( color) Multicolored Eucalyptus trees, Hosmer Grove. Haleakala National Park ( color) Nene (Branta sandvicensis). Haleakala National Park ( color)
There are 23 color pictures on this page out of 178 color pictures of Haleakala.

Themes: Haleakala National Park Night

Places: Hawaii National Parks