Mauna Loa is the world’s largest shield volcano above sea level.
Its name means “Long Mountain” in Hawaiian, fitting the volcano’s immense, gently sloping profile. Mauna Loa covers roughly half of Hawaiʻi Island and rises to 4,169 metres above sea level. Much of its bulk also extends beneath the ocean, making its total height from the seafloor far greater.
The volcano is active and has erupted repeatedly since modern scientific observations began. Its lava is generally fluid basalt, allowing eruptions to spread across broad areas rather than forming a steep cone.
Mauna Kea is taller when measured from the ocean floor, while Kīlauea is often described as one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Those distinctions do not change Mauna Loa’s status as the largest shield volcano above sea level.