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
