Mauna Kea is a dormant volcano, but one of five volcanic peaks that together form the Island of Hawaii. In Hawaiian, mauna kea means "white mountain", a reference to the fact that it is regularly snow or frost capped during the northern hemisphere winter. Its highest point, Pu'u Wēkiu (one of numerous cinder cones on the summit), is the highest point in the state of Hawaii at 13,796 feet (4,205 meters).
Mauna Kea is also the tallest mountain in the world when measured from base to peak, its base being some 16,000 ft (close to 5,000 m) under the surface of the Pacific Ocean. After millions of years of building itself up by volcanic activity, the mountain's height is slowly decreasing as it is being crushed under its own massive weight into the Pacific seafloor.
The summit of Mauna Kea is managed by the University of Hawai'i's Institute for Astronomy. Mauna Kea is both a sacred and historical site in the Hawaiian culture and one of the most important land-based astronomy sites in the world. The location is ideal because of its dark skies, good astronomical seeing, low humidity, clean air, good weather and almost equatorial location.
The accommodation for research astronomers are located below the summit at 9,300 feet (2,835 meters) above sea level, and a visitor information station is located at 9,200 feet (2,804 meters). The summit of Mauna Kea is so high that scientists and other visitors are advised to stay at the lower level for 40 minutes to acclimate to atmospheric conditions before reaching the summit.
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