If you are near Yellowstone or are interested in how the volcano in Hawaii looks, go here. This is 400 square miles of nothing but lava rock. There are very few lava bombs, just lava flow but very deep. There are tunnels made by lava tubes and big old vents.
The walk out onto the lava field reveals how big this was. For the most part this was a rift eruption, not a cone blast thus not so many bombs. The lava rock is, to me, unremarkable in that it is simply volcanic rock that has now weathered. I have to say it is not that easy to walk on but this is very much like walking on some of the lava fields in Hawaii.
The gurgle flow is still very obvious today 2000 years after the eruption. I don't know about you but volcanic activity is not what I thought about when thinking of Idaho. Turns out Idaho has very fertile land but also very rocky.
As you can see, weathering and erosion has taken place so that grass and flowers grow within the lava field.
This is the backside of the visitors center (below) that shows the solar panels used here, there is a dormitory off to the side that houses geologists and rangers studying the area. This is about 200 miles west of Yellowstone and yes the geology all mixed together in regard to hot spots and magma.
Yep, there's Little Dog taking a walk. This little half mile path is paved, handicapped accessible and the only one she was allowed on in the park. She's loving it.
Much like Hawaii, the rock is basaltic but this rock has had time to weather bringing out all the colors from the oxidation.
Flowers. Wherever there is a crack in the rock and weathering has taken place to capture a wee bit of soil, there are flowers. It is a beautiful planet.
The flower below is called Indian Paintbrush and this picture does not do the flower justice as the color just pops in person.
Take a look at the holes in the rock - caused by boiling. The boiling lava cooled into solid rock.
I have seen and been in the Thurston Lava Tube on the Big Island of Hawaii - all the way to the end - but, this lava tube is much different and much much bigger. A lava tube forms by hot lava exiting and the outside of the drainage being cooled and becoming solid as the hot lava at the middle of the flow remaining hot thus continuing to run and creating an empty tube as it flows out. In Hawaii the tube was fairly smooth and easy to walk because of the reasonably quick exit of lava from the tube. This one was not easy to walk but it was huge.Buddy is standing by the lava tube aka tunnel to give scale to the picture.
Take a look at the algae growing on the walls of the lava rock. Nature takes over no matter how harsh the environment.
As we went down into the lava tube/tunnel/cave, there was a pigeon (below).
There are 5 "caves" along the way. These are completely unimproved and at your own risk. What these really are are collapsed lava tubes that form a pocket called a cave. Some of these have slight seepage of water but most are dry. The one below had some ice.
Below is Beauty Cave. Only Buddy could enter this one - the dog stayed back at camp and I could not enter. As most of you know I suffer from severe arthritis and while I don't allow it to stop me and it is amazing I can do the things I do, there is a price to pay and there are things I cannot do any longer. The terrain here is too rugged for me, my ankle no longer turns that way and I did not want to risk injuring it considering are next stop is Yellowstone. Beauty Cave is more smooth bottomed.
Although very thankful for what I can still do, it surely hurts to sit it out. There I am peering into the cave I cannot enter.Friends, do all you can while you can - you never know when the ability to do stuff may be taken away from you - enjoy it while you can!
Craters is near Arco Idaho - a few words about Arco and Idaho...Arco was the first place in America to be lit by nuclear power; this happened July 17, 1955. If you are into the history of nuclear power in this country please look up Arco and follow the links. There is a 890 square mile complex there in Idaho (Idaho National Laboratory) that has all kinds of projects going on. For me, it's a little spooky - I like technology but am not fond of the consequences when things go bad. I know others will disagree but nuclear power seems to be more than we are yet able to control properly. I think it's a good idea but needs much more development before risking lives...unfortunately, globally the power is being harnessed and we are all suffering the consequences like the disaster in Japan and of course Chernobyl. But if you are fascinated by this, Arco is the place to go to look at all of it. Arco is a small, dying town and the business or lack there of reflect the diminishing population. I will say the RV camp there had wonderful showers - best we have had.
A storm came up in the distance and the rain came. A storm is such a beautiful thing.
We left here going to Yellowstone - if you are in the area and think Idaho is just about potatoes, think again - there is a great rift in Idaho and there are Native American stories confirming the eruption here in Idaho creating Craters of the Moon landscape - just when you think the earth is still under your feet - think again!
I thought I would see more trains out here in the west but so far have seen very few. This is one sitting on the tracks not far from Arco. I leave you with the picture of the train - I just love a train.
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