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Hot Science: The Hawaiian Islands where formed by a hotspot deep under the Pacific ocean. A hotspot is a large under water crack that leaks lava and creates land. Over time lava piled on top of each other and created the Hawaiian Island Archipelago beginning with Kure Atoll, the oldest (about 70 million years old) to the Big Island of Hawai'i the most recent, (only 2 million years old). |
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Did you know there are over 100 islands in the Hawaiian Island chain? |
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A Moving Paradise: Believe it or not, the Hawaiian Islands move. Each island moves 10 cm Northwest every year along with the Pacific tectonic plate. When the plate and islands move far enough, the hotspot gets a chance to make a new island. There is a new island forming under the ocean Southeast of the Big Island. It is called Lo'ihi. |
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Did you know that Hawai'i volcanoes are the type known as shield volcanoes? |
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Here are some other sites about our islands:
Click here to play our NAME THAT ISLAND! Game