Mauna Kea–Hawaiian for White Mountain–stands majestically above the clouds on the Big Island of Hawaii. This crystal clear, above-the-clouds environment makes for amazing star-gazing, which has in turn made it home to several of the worlds largest telescopes.
This picture shows off the summit’s dual nature of flat expanse marked by sizable pu’u–cinder cones.
Mauna Kea is so named because the summit becomes a snow-covered white cap throughout the winter months. One of only three places in Hawaii that regularly receive snow, it stands at nearly 14,000 feet above sea level.
It is also known for being the “biggest mountain in the world” as measured from the ocean floor 16,000 feet below sea level.
Awesome photo!!!