Hawaii is the only U.S. state that is completely surrounded by water. It is one of two states that do not share a border with another U.S. state (Alaska being the other). It is the southernmost state of the United States. In addition to possessing the southernmost point in the United States, it is the only state that lies completely in the tropics. One of two states outside the contiguous United States, it is the only state without territory on the mainland of any continent. It is also the only state that continues to grow in area because of active extrusive lava flows, most notably from Kilauea. It has more endangered species per square mile than anywhere else. The Hawaiian Archipelago comprises nineteen islands and atolls extending across a distance of 1,500 miles (2,400 km). Of these, eight high islands are considered the “main islands” and are located at the southeastern end of the archipelago. These islands are, in order from the northwest to southeast, Niihau, Kauai, Oahu, Molokai, Lanai, Kahoolawe, Maui and the Island of Hawaii.
Saturday, November 19th 2011 at 10:17 pm |
Some of the coolest critters can be found scuba diving in Hawaii. Of our roughly 700 species of fish 25% of them are endemic (found nowhere else in the world)!