This activity was created by Prof. Karen Grove (© 1998, 2001 Grove) for use in the Introduction to Oceanography Laboratory course at San Francisco State University. Other educators are welcome to use these exercises in their own classes; please send your comments to: kgrove@sfsu.edu. Commercial use prohibited.

PART II. The World's Biggest Mountain

Figure 1. Below is a bathymetric map of the Hawaiian Islands. If measured from the base to the top, the biggest mountain on the surface of Earth is Hawaii (southeasternmost island in the chain). Mount Everest in the Himalayas has the highest elevation above sea level, and a total relief of 8800 meters (29,000 ft.).

1. What is the total relief of Hawaii (height from base to surface)? This map shows only the part below sea level; you must also add the part above sea level. The elevation of Mauna Loa (the highest peak on Hawaii ) is 4200 meters (13,800 feet).

4a. relief in meters:

4b. relief in feet:

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