Stop 10.2: Haleakala Summit
The summit of Haleakala is a great place to watch sunrise (indeed, Haleakala means "House of the Sun"), but watch out! Not only is the air thin (it is, after all, about 10,000 ft above sea level), but also it can be very cold and windy. Tourists and locals alike should bring warm clothing with them even if it is sunny at sea level, since the weather can change rapidly at the top of the volcano.
Everybody wants to prove that they have made it (by car!) to the top of Haleakala. Just to help you, there's even a sign to give you the elevation.
Science City (also seen in Aerial Picture #5 ) is a collection of Air Force telescopes that are used to track satellites and, by use of special instruments, also records changes in the activity on the surface of the Sun.
From the Puu Ulaula Overlook, one gets a great view down Sliding Sands into the northern part of the Crater floor. It's hard to believe that the floor is more than 3,000 feet below the rim, so watch out if you decide to walk down the trail to the crater floor!
From here you can continue on to Stop 10.3 on the ground, or you can pick another point from the Maui Virtual Field Trip page.
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Author: Peter Mouginis-Mark
Copyright by P. Mouginis-Mark
Curator: Lori Glaze