The Mauna Loa Volcano is the largest volcano and mountain in the world. It is a shield type volcano that is noted by experts to be about 600,000 to 1,000,000 years old. Its peak is an estimated 56,000 feet from its base. It measures 4 kilometers above sea level and its submarine flanks go deep to the sea floor to about 5 kilometers more, plus a depressed oceanic layer of up to 8 kilometers. It?s so big that it makes 50% of the Island of Hawai`i. It is a very active volcano as well. In fact, it is one of the biggest record holders for having eruptions counting up to 33 times since its first recorded explosion back in 1843. The latest happened in 1984. The eruptions produced by the Mauna Loa Volcano are massive, characterized by river-like lava flows that were known to cause destruction to the nearby town of Hilo.