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The Island of Hawaii is known as The Big
Island.
Hawaii is the largest and most
southeastern island of the chain, and is twice the size of all
the other islands combined. It is the newest of all the
Hawaiian islands at about 800,000 years old, and continues to
grow. It consists of five volcanoes. Of these,
Kilauea, Mauna Loa, and Hualalai have all erupted in the past
200 years, and Kilauea and Mauna Loa are still active
today.
The island of Hawaii is approximately 4000
square miles and is home to 140,000 residents. It is
the most diverse of all the islands, with climate and terrain
that range from tropical to desert. On Hawaii, you can surf at
the beach in the morning and snow ski on mountainsides in the
afternoon. The summit of Mauna Kea is nearly 13,800 feet
high and is the site of the world's biggest telescope, and more
scientific observatories than anywhere else in the world,
representing nine nations.
Attractions on Hawaii include the erupting
volcano, Waipio Valley, Pu'ukohola Heiau, Kealakekua Bay,
Hamakua Coast, and Punalu'u Black Sand Beach. The Big
Island leads the world both in orchids and in macadamia nut
production.
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