#14 Hawaii Volcanoes National Park Coin bear Part of the America the Beautiful Series

Hawaii Volcanoes National Park was established in 1916 on the big island of Hawaii. However, the features of the area had been a tourist destination for years before it became a national park.

More recently, the volcano Kilauea, which has been erupting since 1983, offers visitors glimpses of lava flows as they pour down the mountain and into the ocean. These lava flows have contributed to the island’s expansion as they cool when they hit the water and become rock.

The terrain in this park is unique as there are volcanic deserts, rain forests, and other varieties of terrain. The elevations range from sea level to over 13,000 feet at the top of Mauna Loa.

The park was significantly expanded in 2004 with the purchase of over 110,000 acres of land from the Samuel Mills Damon Estate. As a result, the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park grew by 56% because of this purchase.