Under the volcano

摘要

The summit of Mauna a Wakea, the third of six volcanoes that created Hawaii's Big Island, is where some believe that the native Hawaiian creation story begins. Its snow-capped crater is thought to be "piko", the umbilical cord that ties the world to Wakea, the sky father. Ancient shrines and burial zones dot the uppermost slopes. Mauna Kea, as it is also known, is also one of the best places on earth to look into space. The volcano's shieldlike shape ensures that the air at the summit is not just cool and clear, but also flows smoothly and steadily. Most of the big astronomical discoveries made in the past 50 years have had help from the 13 telescopes that cluster below the summit.