Twelve Mile Circle – An Appreciation of Unusual Places

Tag: Volcano

  • Hawaii, Part 8 (Big Island: South Point)

    We had one more corner of the “Big Island” of Hawaii left to explore before moving on to Oahu. It was a late addition to the schedule. The younger kid who is pursuing an undergraduate degree in geology wanted to see an unusual formation. However, this request didn’t materialize until we were actually in Hawaii.…

  • Hawaii, Part 7 (Big Island: Windward)

    I’ve mentioned previously the difference between windward and leeward, and how it’s particularly pronounced on the “Big Island” of Hawaii. We used the windward side as our home base so we had our share of tropical moisture and verdant vegetation. It rained every day where we stayed south of Hilo. However, we never had what…

  • Hawaii, Part 6 (Big Island: Mauna Kea)

    Mauna Kea on Hawaii’s Big Island is a massive shield volcano that rises majestically 13,803 feet (4,200 metres) above sea level. By some calculations it’s also the tallest mountain in the world if measured from its base deep below the ocean. Mauna Kea formed over the Hawaiian Hotspot over the last million years, still an…

  • Hawaii, Part 5 (Big Island: Lava)

    The “Big Island” remains the most volcanically active of the chain, perched directly above the Hawaiian hotspot. Magma continues to bulge from the depths of the earth, ever increasing the size of this young island. Unfortunately we didn’t observe a lava flow in person because the volcanoes took a little break during our visit. However,…

  • Hawaii, Part 2 (Maui: Kihei & Wailea)

    I knew our trip would involve three separate islands, Oahu, Maui, and the “Big Island” of Hawaii. However, there were many ways to figure a path. The route simplified when I realized we could take a direct flight from the mainland United States to several Hawaiian islands, not just Oahu. We had multiple options inbound…

  • Hawaii, Part 1 (No Cigar)

    This was supposed to be the year I finally finished Hawaii, with my fourth trip to the islands. There are only five counties in the state and I needed three more: Maui County, Hawaii County, and Kalawao County. I should be able to capture that small remaining set for my County Counting list. This should…

  • Inland Northwest, Day 5 (University Loop)

    This was another early morning start although not as early as some of the others. We wouldn’t need to drive very far anymore now that we’d settled into our temporary home in Lewiston, Idaho for four nights in a row. The Washington Race Sunrise came quickly and we soon found ourselves running another half-marathon. Thankfully…

  • Costa Rica, Part 2 (In the Shadow of the Volcano)

    We landed at Juan Santamaría airport in San José on a Friday afternoon, clearing Immigration and Customs nearly effortlessly. Then we got a taste of rush hour traffic riding on the shuttle to retrieve our rental car. Driving conditions became a lot more difficult later in the trip although I didn’t know it at the…

  • Monte Brasil

    Terceira, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Monte Brasil is an odd appendage hanging off of Terceira’s south central coast (map). It forms a bay and a natural harbor with its teardrop shape. Additionally it deflects prevailing winds that come from the west and the southwest. Its heights allowed defensive positions that protected the land…

  • Ilhéus das Cabras

    Terceira, The Azores (Açores), Portugal (March 2001) Two dramatic rocks rise above the ocean off of the eastern end of Terceira’s southern coast (map). These are the Ilhéus das Cabras, the “Goat Islands,” and they serve as silent witnesses to the power of the Earth. Not too long ago these jagged fragments joined to form…