Seacoast
Keauhou is located on the southern seacoast of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and is one of the favored destinations of hearty wilderness hikers. From non-native grasses to a small rocky bay where cold fresh water seeps to the surface and mixes with the ocean.
Lowlands
The Puna Forest, Reserved in the northern lowland is Hawaii's largest wet forest. Lava from the 23-year eruption has covered 16,000 acres of lowland and rain forest.
Mid-Elevation Woodlands
Ohia grows as a tree up to an elevation of about 8,500 feet and forms woodland. It stands at elevations as high as 7,200 feet. There is some heterogeneity in the woodland as you will see in some patches with larger or more densely spaced trees (below right).
Rainforest
Tropical rainforests are found in Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and on many of the Pacific islands. They are often found along the equator. Tropical rainforests receive at least 70 inches of rain each year and have more species of plants and animals than any other biome.
Upland Forest
Kipuka Puaulu Trail on Mauna Loa, is a short loop through an upland forest oasis surrounded by lava flows from Mauna Loa. This forest is an old-growth forest of koa and ohia trees.
Alpine
Lake Waiau, one of the world's highest alpine lakes, the seventh highest lake in the USA. At high water levels a small outlet stream appears at the northwest end, but it is absorbed into the ground after a short distance. Aquatic insects such as midges and beetles can be found breeding in the water but it usually freezes in winter.
Desert
Kaʻū Desert is a leeward (the direction downwind from the point of reference) desert in the
district of Kaʻū, the southernmost district on the Big Island of Hawaii, and is
made up mostly of dried lava remnants, volcanic ash, sand and gravel. The desert
covers an area of the Kīlauea Volcano along the Southwest rift zone. The area
lacks any vegetation, mainly due to acid rainfall.
Keauhou is located on the southern seacoast of Hawai`i Volcanoes National Park and is one of the favored destinations of hearty wilderness hikers. From non-native grasses to a small rocky bay where cold fresh water seeps to the surface and mixes with the ocean.
Lowlands
The Puna Forest, Reserved in the northern lowland is Hawaii's largest wet forest. Lava from the 23-year eruption has covered 16,000 acres of lowland and rain forest.
Mid-Elevation Woodlands
Ohia grows as a tree up to an elevation of about 8,500 feet and forms woodland. It stands at elevations as high as 7,200 feet. There is some heterogeneity in the woodland as you will see in some patches with larger or more densely spaced trees (below right).
Rainforest
Tropical rainforests are found in Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, and on many of the Pacific islands. They are often found along the equator. Tropical rainforests receive at least 70 inches of rain each year and have more species of plants and animals than any other biome.
Upland Forest
Kipuka Puaulu Trail on Mauna Loa, is a short loop through an upland forest oasis surrounded by lava flows from Mauna Loa. This forest is an old-growth forest of koa and ohia trees.
Alpine
Lake Waiau, one of the world's highest alpine lakes, the seventh highest lake in the USA. At high water levels a small outlet stream appears at the northwest end, but it is absorbed into the ground after a short distance. Aquatic insects such as midges and beetles can be found breeding in the water but it usually freezes in winter.
Desert
Kaʻū Desert is a leeward (the direction downwind from the point of reference) desert in the
district of Kaʻū, the southernmost district on the Big Island of Hawaii, and is
made up mostly of dried lava remnants, volcanic ash, sand and gravel. The desert
covers an area of the Kīlauea Volcano along the Southwest rift zone. The area
lacks any vegetation, mainly due to acid rainfall.