<Tr> <Th_colspan="2"> U.S. National Natural Landmark </Th> </Tr> <Tr> <Th> Designated </Th> <Td> November 1972 </Td> </Tr> <P> Mauna Kea (/ ˌmɔːnə ˈkeɪ. ə / or / ˌmaʊnə ˈkeɪ. ə /, Hawaiian: (ˈmɐwnə ˈkɛjə)) is a dormant volcano on the island of Hawaii . Its peak is 4,207 m (13,802 ft) above sea level, making it the highest point in the state of Hawaii and the second - highest point above sea level of any island on Earth . Most of the mountain is under water; when measured from its oceanic base, Mauna Kea is over 10,000 m (33,000 ft) tall and is the tallest mountain on Earth, taller than Mount Everest in Nepal and China . Mauna Kea is about a million years old, and has thus passed the most active shield stage of life hundreds of thousands of years ago . In its current post-shield state, its lava is more viscous, resulting in a steeper profile . Late volcanism has also given it a much rougher appearance than its neighboring volcanoes; contributing factors include the construction of cinder cones, the decentralization of its rift zones, the glaciation on its peak, and the weathering effects of the prevailing trade winds . Mauna Kea last erupted 6,000 to 4,000 years ago and is now considered dormant . </P> <P> In Hawaiian mythology, the peaks of the island of Hawaii are sacred . An ancient law allowed only high - ranking aliʻi to visit its peak . Ancient Hawaiians living on the slopes of Mauna Kea relied on its extensive forests for food, and quarried the dense volcano - glacial basalts on its flanks for tool production . When Europeans arrived in the late 18th century, settlers introduced cattle, sheep and game animals, many of which became feral and began to damage the mountain's ecological balance . Mauna Kea can be ecologically divided into three sections: an alpine climate at its summit, a Sophora chrysophylla--Myoporum sandwicense (or māmane--naio) forest on its flanks, and an Acacia koa--Metrosideros polymorpha (or koa--ʻōhiʻa) forest, now mostly cleared by the former sugar industry, at its base . In recent years, concern over the vulnerability of the native species has led to court cases that have forced the Hawai'i Department of Land and Natural Resources to eradicate all feral species on the mountain . </P>

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