Ice-age reserve, Mauna Kea, Hawaii

Mauna Kea (lit. *White Mountain*), considered dormant, is a shield volcano approx 1 million years old and is Hawaii's highest peak at 4250m (13,769ft). Much of the mountain is underwater and when measured from its base on the sea floor is 10,000m (33,000ft) high, significantly higher than Mt. Everest. The summit of Mauna Kea once supported a small alpine glacier that has since disappeared. The shield-building lavas of Mauna Kea are now largely buried under cinder cones and ash deposits, the product of explosive eruptions that ceased approx. 3600 years ago. The peak is always snow-capped in winter, sometimes to a snow-depth of several meters. This image shows the sign for the ice-age natural reserve extending from 10,000ft to the summit. The reserve contains a rare example of permafrost in the tropics and the *wēkiu* bug , a native flightless insect that inhabits the summit area of Mauna Kea and has adapted to feed on other insects that are blown up to the top of the mountain.