点评:Haleakala NP has multiple districts and multiple ecosystems. However, what distinguishes this park and makes it a Hawaiian Must See is the near lifeless, multicolored volcanic crater of lava flows and cinders that sits at 10,000 feet of elevation and above the clouds that surround it as if it is floating in the sunshine. As you enter the park and climb the entrance road, there are a series of overlooks that offer you your first view of the crater from above. We stopped at Leleiwi and it was incredible to view this valley crater. However, the most amazing views are obtained at the Summit VC where you can enter the crater and wilderness area on foot via the Sliding Sands Trail which is one of the best experiences in the park. The views of the crater and the changing hues of the volcanic rock are beautiful. However, what is perhaps the most amazing thing is to watch as the clouds surround the crater and ebb and flow over it. It is truly surreal.
The Hawaiian Islands are teeming with wildlife both flora and fauna as are many parts of Haleakala NP. However, the crater is oddly devoid of wildlife either flora or fauna. It is most similar to Death Valley. There is one unique plant that does call the crater home and a true sight to see, the silverswords. This is a prickly set of long, pointed and rosetted leaves that have silver hairs to give that color to the plant and they flower once in a 50 year life. These plants grow in the high altitudes and volcanic soils of Haleakala and can be seen growing wild between the White and Red hills at nearly 10,000 feet.
All of these are incredible reasons to visit the crater and see the most amazing and unique part of this park. For our family, it was the most amazing and memorable part of the park.
翻译:哈雷阿卡拉国家公园拥有多个区域和多种生态系统。然而,真正令这座公园脱颖而出,成为夏威夷必游之地的,是海拔10,000英尺(约3000米)的火山口,它由熔岩流和火山渣构成,呈现出近乎死寂的五彩斑斓的景象,仿佛漂浮在阳光之上,笼罩着周围的云层。进入公园,沿着入口公路向上攀登,你会发现一系列观景台,让你从高处俯瞰火山口。我们曾在Leleiwi观景台停留,欣赏这座山谷火山口的壮丽景色,令人叹为观止。不过,最令人惊叹的景色当属Summit观景台,在那里你可以沿着Sliding Sands Trail步道徒步进入火山口和荒野区域,这条步道也是公园里最棒的体验之一。火山口的景色和火山岩变幻的色彩美不胜收。然而,最令人叹为观止的或许是云雾缭绕、潮起潮落的景象。这真是一幅如梦似幻的画面。
夏威夷群岛动植物种类繁多,哈雷阿卡拉国家公园的许多地方也是如此。然而,火山口却出奇地缺乏动植物,与死亡谷极为相似。不过,有一种独特的植物——银剑草——生长于此,令人叹为观止。这种植物叶片细长,呈莲座状,上面长满了刺,并覆盖着银色的绒毛,使其呈现出银色的光泽。它们一生大约50年才开一次花。银剑草生长在哈雷阿卡拉火山的高海拔火山土壤中,在海拔近10,000英尺的白山和红山之间,随处可见它们的身影。
所有这些都是游览火山口、欣赏这座公园最神奇独特景观的绝佳理由。对我们一家来说,这无疑是公园之旅中最令人难忘的体验。