La Perouse Pinnacle facts for kids
La Perouse Pinnacle is a tall, pointy rock that sticks out of the ocean. It's like a natural tower made of old volcano rock. You can find it in the French Frigate Shoals, which are part of the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. These islands are far away in the Pacific Ocean.
The pinnacle is about 3 miles (4.8 km) southwest of East Island, Hawaii. It's considered the oldest and most distant volcanic rock in the entire Hawaiian Islands chain. La Perouse Pinnacle is about 120 feet (37 meters) tall. It's surrounded by beautiful coral reefs and a smaller, rocky island that is only about 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3 meters) high. Because of its unique shape, people sometimes think it's a ship when they see it from far away!
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What is La Perouse Pinnacle?
This amazing rock is often called a "volcanic rock islet." It's very important because it sits right in the middle of the French Frigate Shoals. This makes it a key landmark for sailors. You can spot the pinnacle from about 8 miles (12.8 km) away at sea.
How Did It Get Its Name?
The pinnacle is named after a French explorer named Comte de La Pérouse. He discovered these shoals way back in 1786. Imagine sailing across the ocean and finding such a unique rock!
What is the Pinnacle Made Of?
La Perouse Pinnacle is made mostly of very hard volcanic rock. Scientists believe it's what's left of a volcano that was active millions of years ago. Over a very long time, the rest of the volcano wore away, leaving only this tough core.
In 1923, a group of explorers on the Tanager Expedition visited the pinnacle. They studied its rocks and found that it is made of a type of rock called olivine basalt. This is a common rock found in volcanoes.
The Ship That Almost Crashed
La Perouse Pinnacle looks so much like a sailing ship from a distance that it almost caused a real ship to crash! In the 1800s, a whaling ship called the Rebecca saw the pinnacle at night. The crew thought it was another ship and tried to signal to it.
When the "other ship" didn't respond, the Rebecca sailed closer to investigate. Suddenly, they ran right into the coral reef surrounding the pinnacle! Luckily, the ship survived the crash. In the morning, the crew realized their mistake and understood that the "ship" was actually La Perouse Pinnacle.
A Landmark for Sailors
Even today, La Perouse Pinnacle is an important landmark for people sailing in the area. In the late 2010s, sailors used it as a key point while searching for a lost sailor. The pinnacle was even mentioned in a sailing magazine called Cruising World in 2018. It continues to be a famous and helpful guide in the vast ocean.
