Mauna Kea summit cinder cones, 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). 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 metres. This image, taken in summer from the Summit Road at approx. 12,000ft., above the cloud and tree-level, shows several of the snow-covered red cinder cones that appear as one climbs to the summit.