Mauna Kea topographic map
Interactive map
Click on the map to display elevation.
About this map
Name: Mauna Kea topographic map, elevation, terrain.
Average elevation: 3,979 m
Minimum elevation: 3,759 m
Maximum elevation: 4,209 m
With its high elevation, dry environment, and stable airflow, Mauna Kea's summit is one of the best sites in the world for astronomical observation. Since the creation of an access road in 1964, thirteen telescopes funded by eleven countries have been constructed at the summit. The Mauna Kea Observatories are used for scientific research across the electromagnetic spectrum and comprise the largest such facility in the world. Their construction on a landscape considered sacred by Native Hawaiians continues to be a topic of debate to this day.