Hawaii Volcanoes National Park


World Heritage Identification Number: 409

World Heritage since: 1987

Category: Natural Heritage

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇺🇸 United States of America

Continent: Americas

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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Exploring the Dynamic Landscape of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1987, is a testament to the raw power and beauty of nature that lies within the heart of the Big Island of Hawaii. Encompassing two of the world's most active volcanoes – Kilauea and Mauna Loa – this UNESCO World Heritage Site offers a unique opportunity to witness the ever-changing landscape shaped by volcanic activity.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

This site contains two of the most active volcanoes in the world, Mauna Loa (4,170 m high) and Kilauea (1,250 m high), both of which tower over the Pacific Ocean. Volcanic eruptions have created a constantly changing landscape, and the lava flows reveal surprising geological formations. Rare birds and endemic species can be found there, as well as forests of giant ferns.

Encyclopedia Record: Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park

Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park is a national park of the United States located in Hawaii on the island of Hawaii. The park encompasses two active volcanoes: Kīlauea, one of the world's most active volcanoes, and Mauna Loa, the world's largest shield volcano. The park provides scientists with insight into the development of the Hawaiian Islands and access for studies of volcanism. For visitors, the park offers dramatic volcanic landscapes, glimpses of rare flora and fauna, and a view into the traditional Hawaiian culture connected to these landscapes.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 87,940 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (viii) — Outstanding example representing major earth stages

Coordinates: 19.40083333 , -155.1236111

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Image of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park

© Jos-uit-boston at Dutch Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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Country Information: United States of America

Flag of United States of America

Official Name: United States of America

Capital: Washington, D.C.

Continent: Americas

Population (2024): 340,110,988

Population (2023): 336,806,231

Population (2022): 334,017,321

Land Area: 9,147,420 sq km

Currency: United States dollar (USD)

Country Data Sources

Last updated: January 18, 2026

Portions of the page Hawaii Volcanoes National Park are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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