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September 9, 2013

Mauna Loa or Tamu Massif - which is the largest Volcano????

Scientists studying the ocean floor were shocked when they stumbled upon what they believe is the world's largest volcano. A megavolcano found at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean is being reported as the largest single volcano on Earth.
Tamu Massif, as the megavolcano is called, may be as voluminous as Olympus Mons on Mars, which is regarded as the Solar System’s largest known volcano.


The site was believed to be made up several different volcanoes but now scientists discovered it is in fact one huge supervolcano that erupted some 145 million years ago as huge amounts of magma flowed onto the ocean floor at a point where three microplates of Earth’s crust meet.

  • The 400-mile wide Tamu Massif volcano sits 1,000 miles east of Japan
  • It was originally believed to be part of the Shatsky Rise plate

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  • Rock samples suggest it formed around 140 million years ago
  • Tamu Massif is thought to be wider than Mar's Olympus Mons volcano.
  • The top of Tamu Massif lies about 6,500 feet (1,981 m) below the ocean surface, while much of its base is believed to be in waters that are almost 4 miles (6.4 km) deep.
  • Tamu Massif, the inactive volcano, was previously thought to be a string of volcanoes rather than one enormous feature.

  • Previously, the largest volcano on Earth was Mauna Loa in Hawaii.

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