When John and I discussed going to the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve, we had no idea what to expect. It just sounded interesting. Off we went to the area in the Snake River plane between Barry and Arco, Idaho.
Interesting, it was. I imagined that it would be similar to Amboy Crater in southern California that we visited in 2011. It was not the same. Amboy is a postage stamp compared to the five counties containing 750,000 acres of Craters of the Moon.
Someone described it as "weird and scenic." Had I not been there, I would have called it unbelievable. There is no way to grasp the concept of the power that would erupt from the core of the earth and cover over so many acres inside and out of the Monument area.
The diverse multitude of volcanic features displayed include rifts, cinder cones, splatter cones, lava tube caves that can be explored with a permit and shield volcanoes.
The Visitor's Center is one of the best educational centers that we have visited. If you have the opportunity, take a few hours and visit the Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.
Pahoehoe
Lava Tubes
Lava Tube Interior
Cinder Crags
Cinder crag with lichen growing on it - close up
Tree Molds
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| As the lava struck and knocked a tree and to the ground, the lava made a mold of the bark. |
How deep this crack was before the wind filled it with debris?
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Black soil on Inferno Cone
Splatter Cone
Our hike up a Splatter Cone
Looking inside the Splatter Cone filling with debris after 2000 years.
A Lava field as far as we could see
Natures Art
Holes in the lava
Can anyone identify this white mountain on the road to Arco Betty Graffis is the first to identify these as the Twin Butes. These are also sleeping volcanoes. Thanks so much Betty.
Was there rain or a pot of gold waiting in Idaho Falls?
God bless
Great pics. We saw a lot of this type of terrain on the Big Island, but I never knew there was an area like this in Idaho.
ReplyDeleteOf all things, I forgot to add that the astronauts trained there to learn how to select rocks on the moon.
DeleteI stayed a week in the area a couple of years ago. It was certainly fascinating to me.
ReplyDeleteI was surprised to see how much is outside the National Monument!
DeleteI was surprised to see how much is outside the National Monument!
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DeleteWhat a cool and weird place...hehe We have never been there. Thanks for the great tour.
ReplyDeleteIt is a place that you really have to experience in order to grasp it.
DeleteWould that mountain be part of Twin Buttes?
ReplyDeleteBetty, you win the prize with your answer "Twin Buttes" Thanks so much. I just read that they were also volcanoes. As they said, the Snake River Basin is home to many volcanoes.
DeleteSure looks like you had a little better weather than we did. That place is so unique. Hope things are going better for you. Miss you.
ReplyDeleteThird time is charm, so go for it! I'd love to hear your take on it. Miss you too.
DeleteWe are at a lower elevation and it is much warmer. Mr. and Mrs. Tomato and basil even were able to be outside in the sun as we are here and I am doing laundry.
We drove right on past as we were going to Yellowstone and the Tetons several years ago. Can't be much there we thought. Bot I guess we were sure wrong! Another reason to go back.
ReplyDeleteHidden beauties are everywhere. Sometimes more interesting than the places we hear about most.
DeleteWe loved this park! The lava tubes are so cool!
ReplyDeleteThat's fascinating. Will have to add Craters of the Moon to our list! We haven't been to Idaho.
ReplyDeleteWe were to the moon and back in the 90s. All I remember is seeing people camped on the lava! I think of it often, but I can never remember whether this is the same place. We climbed a small hill that had a stone fence and a sundial at the top. Am I thinking of the right place. Could have sworn I left a message, yesterday, but that's the story of my life. So glad to have found you and John, again. So often wondered whether you got to live your dream. I followed you through the hard times with John's illness. Google or my computer lost your blog address and I couldn't remember the name of the blog. Course, now that I know it, I think it's on my defunct blog roll. So happy for you and John, Nan. ~ Nancy
ReplyDeleteMakes me realize after 4 years on the road there is so much more to see.
ReplyDeleteIsn't it great to find & discover new places & be overwhelmed by the beauty & history of it all. So many new things to see, so many new things to learn, so many places yet to be found..
ReplyDeleteWe really need to visit this area, thanks for the great photos.
ReplyDeleteTook me a while to find your blog, when I clicked on your name on my blog it took me to Google+ and not to your blog! But, here I am and now wondering where you landed because I know you can't be staying in the Grand Tetons due to the shutdown. I'll be reading your archives to see all the places you've been!
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