| The most famous volcanic crater
in the world is Diamond Head, located on the South-east Coast of O'ahu
at the end of Waikiki overlooking the Pacific Ocean. It was originally
named Laeahi by the ancient Hawaiians. The name meant "brow of
the tuna" and looking at the silhouette of the crater from Waikiki,
you can see the resemblance. The current name came was given to the
crater by British sailors in the 1800's. When they first saw the crater
at a great distance, the calcite crystals in the lava rock appeared
to glimmer in the sunlight. The sailors mistakenly thought there must
be diamonds in the soil. Diamond Head is a crater that has been extinct
for 150,000 years. The crater is 3,520 feet in diameter with a 760-foot
summit. When the United States annexed Hawaii in 1898, harbor defense
became a main responsibility. One of the major defense forts, Fort Ruger,
occupied the Diamond Head Crater. A battery of canons was located within
the crater providing complete concealment and protection from invading
enemies. An observation deck was constructed at the summit in 1910 to
provide target sighting and a four level underground complex was built
within the walls of the crater as a command post. A 580-foot tunnel
was dug through the crater wall to provide easier access to the Fort.
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