Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve
IUCN Category III (Natural Monument)
Location:	Idaho, USA
Nearest city:	Arco, Idaho
Coordinates:	43° 25′ 0″ N, 113° 31′ 0″ W
Area:	714,727 acres (2,892.41 km²)
Established:	May 2, 1924
Visitation:	183,111 (in 2004)
Governing body:	National Park Service and BLM

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and national preserve located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho near Arco, Idaho. The features in this protected area are volcanic and represent one of the best preserved flood basalt areas in the continental United States. The World Conservation Union or International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... English national monument Irish national monument U.S. National Monument This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Image File history File links Locator_Dot. ... Image File history File links US_Locator_Blank. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R) Senators Larry Craig (R) Mike Crapo (R) Official language(s) none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... Arco, Idaho Arco is a city located in Butte County, Idaho. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers Americas public lands, totaling 262 million acres (1,060,000 km²) or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. ... A U.S. National Monument is a protected area of the United States that is similar to a national park (specifically a U.S. National Park) except that the President of the United States can quickly declare an area of the United States to be a national monument without Congressional... National Preserve is a designation applied by the United States Congress to protected areas that have characteristics normally associated with US National Parks but where certain activities not allowed in National Parks are permitted. ... Big Southern Butte The Snake River Plain is a geological feature of (primarily) the American state of Idaho. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R) Senators Larry Craig (R) Mike Crapo (R) Official language(s) none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... Arco, Idaho Arco is a city located in Butte County, Idaho. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R) Senators Larry Craig (R) Mike Crapo (R) Official language(s) none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... A volcano is a geological landform (usually a mountain) where a substance, usually magma (rock of the Earths interior made molten or liquid by extremely high temperatures along with a reduction in pressure and/or the introduction of water or other volatiles) erupts through the surface of a planet. ... A flood basalt is a giant volcanic eruption that coats large stretches of land with basalt lava. ...

The Monument was established on May 2, 1924. In November 2000, a Presidential proclamation greatly expanded the Monument area. The National Park Service portions of the expanded Monument were designated as a national preserve in August 2002. The area is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... This article is about the year 2000. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... 2002(MMII) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers Americas public lands, totaling 262 million acres (1,060,000 km²) or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. ...

The Monument and Preserve encompass three major lava fields and about 400 mi² (1,000 km²) of sagebrush steppe grasslands to cover a total area of 1117 mi² (2,892 km²). All three lava fields lie along the Great Rift of Idaho, with some of the best examples of open rift cracks in the world (including the deepest – 800 feet ; 244 m – known on Earth). There are excellent examples of almost every variety of basaltic lava as well as tree molds (cavities left by lava-incinerated trees), lava tubes (a type of cave), and many other volcanic features. Look up Lava, ‘A‘a, or Pāhoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ... Binomial name Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ... An Inner Mongolian Grassland. ... USGS image In geology, a rift is a place where the Earths crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart. ... Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... Basalt Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock, sometimes porphyritic, and is often both fine-grained and dense. ... Look up Lava, ‘A‘a, or Pāhoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ... The coniferous Coast Redwood, the tallest tree species on earth A tree can be defined as a large, perennial, woody plant. ... Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow. ... Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) This article is about natural caves; for artificial caves used as dwellings, such as those in north China, see yaodong. ...

Geography and geologic setting

Craters of the Moon within Idaho

The Craters of the Moon Lava Field spreads across 618 square miles (1,601 km²) and is the largest mostly Holocene-aged basaltic lava field in the lower 48 U.S. states. The Monument and Preserve contain more than 25 volcanic cones including outstanding examples of spatter cones. Sixty distinct lava flows form the Craters of the Moon Lava Field ranging in age from 15,000 to just 2,000 years old. The Kings Bowl and Wapi lava fields, both about 2,200 years old, are part of the National Preserve. Download high resolution version (580x895, 81 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (580x895, 81 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... The Holocene Epoch is a stupid geologic period that extends from the present back about 10,000 radiocarbon years. ... A U.S. state is any one of the fifty states (four of which officially favor the term commonwealth) which, together with the District of Columbia and Palmyra Atoll (an uninhabited incorporated unorganized territory), form the United States of America. ... Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, a cinder-and-spatter cone on Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcano formations. ...

Craters of the Moon Lava Field reaches southeastward from the Pioneer Mountains. This lava field is the largest of several large and recent beds of lava that erupted from the 53 mile (85 km) long, south-east to north-west trending, Great Rift volcanic zone; a line of weakness in the Earth's crust created by Basin and Range rifting. Together with fields from other fissures they make up the Lava Beds of Idaho, which in turn are located within the much larger Snake River Plain volcanic province (the Great Rift almost extends across the entire Snake River Plain). Look up Lava, ‘A‘a, or Pāhoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ... Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... Basin and Range index map - USGS The Basin and Range Province is a particular type of topography that covers much of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico that is typified by elongate north-south trending arid valleys bounded by mountain ranges which also bound adjacent valleys. ... Big Southern Butte The Snake River Plain is a geological feature of (primarily) the American state of Idaho. ...

The rugged landscape remains remote and undeveloped with only one paved road across the northern end. Located in south-central Idaho midway between Boise and Yellowstone National Park, the monument includes 53,545 acres (216.69 km²) in the Developed Area (the extent of the national monument before the preserve was added) and the visitor center is 5900 feet (1800 m) above sea level. Combined U.S. Highway 20-26-93 cuts through the north-western part of the monument and provides access to it. A typical rural county road in Indiana, USA, where traffic drives on the right. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R) Senators Larry Craig (R) Mike Crapo (R) Official language(s) none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ... This article deals with the state capital of Idaho. ... Yellowstone National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. ... For considerations of sea level change, in particular rise associated with possible global warming, see sea level rise. ... Current U.S. Highway shield Current U.S. Highway shield in California The United States Highway System is an integrated system of roads in the United States numbered within a nationwide grid. ... U.S. Highway 20 is an east-west United States highway. ... United States Highway 26 is an east-west United States highway. ... United States Highway 93 is a major north-south United States highway in the western U.S., extending between the Canadian border in Montana, where it connects with B.C. Highway 93, and Wickenburg, Arizona, a small town about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Phoenix. ...

Craters of the Moon from U.S. 20-26-93

Total average precipitation in the Craters of the Moon area is between 15 to 20 inches (400 to 500 mm) per year and most of that is lost in cracks in the basalt, only to emerge later in springs and seeps in the walls of the Snake River Canyon. Older lava fields on the plain have been invaded by drought-resistant plants such as sagebrush while younger fields, such as Craters of the Moon, only have a seasonal and very sparse cover of vegetation. In fact from a distance this cover disappears almost entirely, giving an impression of utter black desolation. Repeated lava flows over the last 15,000 years has raised the land surface enough to expose it to the prevailing southwesterly winds, which help to keep the area dry. Together these conditions make life on the lava field difficult. Download high resolution version (2000x514, 68 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Download high resolution version (2000x514, 68 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Basalt Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock, sometimes porphyritic, and is often both fine-grained and dense. ... The Snake River Canyon is formed by the Snake and Greys River on Idaho, Wyoming border. ... A drought is an extended period where water availability falls below the statistical requirements for a region. ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... Binomial name Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ... Wind is the quasi-horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by Howard Sterns asshole. ...

History

Pre to early history

Paleo-Native Americans were in the area about 12,000 years ago but did not leave much archaeological evidence. Northern Shoshone created trails through the Craters of the Moon Lava Field during their Summer migrations from the Snake River to the Camas Praire, west of the lava field. Stone windbreaks at Indian Tunnel were used to protect campsites from the dry summer wind and are among the most obvious signs of their temporary presence (no evidence exists for permanent habitation by any Native American group). A hunting and gathering culture, the Northern Shoshone pursued Wapiti, bears, American Bison, cougars, and Bighorn Sheep – all large game who no longer range the area. The most recent eruptions ended about 2,100 years ago and were likely witnessed by the Shoshone people. Shoshone legend speaks of a serpent on a mountain who, angered by lightning, coiled around and squeezed the mountain until liquid rock flowed, fire shot from cracks, and the mountain exploded. [1] Native Americans is a term which has several different common meanings and scope, according to regional use and context. ... Shoshone around their tipi, probably taken around 1890 Shoshone Indians at Ft. ... This article is about the Snake River in the northwestern United States. ... In anthropology, the hunter-gatherer way of life is that led by certain societies of the Neolithic Era based on the exploitation of wild plants and animals. ... This article is about red deer. ... For other meanings, see Bear (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Bison bison Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies B. b. ... A Cougar is: an animal, the Puma a helicopter type, the Eurocopter Cougar, with the civilian counterpart called Eurocopter Super Puma an armored military vehicle, the Cougar Hardened Engineer Vehicle, HEV [1] an older woman looking for companionship from a significantly younger man. ... Binomial name Ovis canadensis Shaw, 1804 Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis) is a species of sheep in North America with two endangered subspecies: Desert Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis nelsoni) California Bighorn Sheep (Ovis canadensis californiana). ... Mount McKinley in Alaska has one of the largest visible base-to-summit elevation differences anywhere A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... Lightning over Pentagon City in Arlington County, Virginia Cloud to cloud lightning Lightning is a powerful natural electrostatic discharge produced during a thunderstorm. ...

Caucasian fur trappers avoided the lava field area below the Pioneer Mountains by following Indian trails. Early Caucasian pioneers who sought gold, affordable farm land to raise crops, or cheap ranch land to range cattle also avoided the lava fields and considered them useless. It seems that nobody stayed for long. This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... General Name, Symbol, Number gold, Au, 79 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 6, d Appearance metallic yellow Atomic mass 196. ... Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Iowa A farm is the basic unit in agriculture. ... Crop has several meanings: A crop is a plant domesticated for use in agriculture, considered as a group (eg. ... Binomial name Bos taurus Linnaeus, 1758 Cattle (called cows in vernacular usage) are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. ...

Goodale's Cutoff

Big Southern Butte was used as a landmark by pioneers.

Pioneers traveling in wagon trains on the Oregon Trail in the 1850s and 1860s later used Indian trails that skirted the lava flows in what today is the northern part of the monument as part of an alternate route called Goodale's Cutoff. The cutoff was created to reduce the possibility of ambush by Shoshone warriors along the Snake River such as the one that occurred at Massacre Rocks (which today is memorialized in Idaho's Massacre Rocks State Park). Photo taken by Daniel Mayer and released under terms of the GNU FDL. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Photo taken by Daniel Mayer and released under terms of the GNU FDL. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Wagon Train was a television series on NBC from 1957 to 1965. ... The route of the Oregon Trail is shown in red in the western United States Map from The Ox Team or the Old Oregon Trail 1852-1906 by Ezra Meeker. ... // Events and Trends Technology Production of steel revolutionised by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Science Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution... // Events and trends Technology The First Transcontinental Railroad in the United States is built in the six year period between 1863 and 1869. ... Shoshone around their tipi, probably taken around 1890 Shoshone Indians at Ft. ... This article is about the Snake River in the northwestern United States. ... Boulders in Massacre Rocks State Park, deposited during the Bonneville Event Massacre Rocks State Park is a state park in the U.S. state of Idaho. ...

After gold was discovered in the Salmon River area of Idaho a group of emigrants persuaded an Illinois-born trapper and trader named Tim Goodale to lead them through the cutoff. A large wagon train left in July 1862 and met up with more wagons at Craters of the Moon Lava Field. Numbering 795 men and 300 women and children, the unusually large group was relatively unmolested during its journey and named the cutoff for their guide. Improvements to the cutoff such as adding a ferry to cross the Snake River made it into a popular alternate route of the Oregon Trail. The Salmon River is the name of several different rivers. ... State nickname: Land of Lincoln, The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich (D) Senators Richard Durbin (D) Barack Obama (D) Official language(s) English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... Wagon Train was a television series on NBC from 1957 to 1965. ... 1862 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... A wagon (in old British English waggon) is a wheeled vehicle, ordinarily with four wheels, usually pulled by an animal such as a horse, mule or ox, which was used for transport of heavy goods in the past. ... The Pride of Burgundy, a P&O Ferries car ferry on the Dover-Calais route A ferry is a boat or a ship carrying passengers, and sometimes their vehicles, on scheduled services. ...

Exploration and early study

In 1879, two Arco cattlemen named Arthur Ferris and J.W. Powell became the first known people to explore the lava fields. They were investigating its possible use for grazing and watering cattle but found the area to be unsuitable and left. 1879 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Grazing is the regular consumption of part of one organism without killing it by another organism. ...

United States Army Captain and western explorer B.L.E. Bonneville visited the lava fields and other places in the West in the 19th century and wrote about his experiences in his diaries. Washington Irving later used Bonneville's diaries to write the Adventures of Captain Bonneville, saying this unnamed lava field is a place "where nothing meets the eye but a desolate and awful waste, where no grass grows nor water runs, and where nothing is to be seen but lava." US Army Seal HHC, US Army Distinctive Unit Insignia The Army is the branch of the United States armed forces which has primary responsibility for land-based military operations. ... Benjamin Bonneville Benjamin Louis Eulalie de Bonneville (April 14, 1796-1878) was a French-born officer in the United States Army, fur trapper, and explorer in the American West. ... This article deals with the western United States. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... Washington Irving Washington Irving (April 3, 1783 – November 28, 1859) was an American author of the early 19th century. ...

In 1901 and 1903, Israel Russell became the first geologist to study this area while surveying it for the United States Geological Survey (USGS). In 1910, geologist Samuel Paisley continued Russell's work and later became the monument's first custodian. Others followed and in time much of the mystery surrounding this and the other Lava Beds of Idaho was lifted. 1901 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... 1903 has the latest occurring solstices and equinoxes for 400 years, because the Gregorian calendar hasnt had a leap year for seven years or a century leap year since 1600. ... Israel Cook Russell (1852-1906) was an American geologist who explored Alaska in the early 20th century. ... The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ... 1910 was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar). ...

The few Caucasians who visited the area in the 19th century created local legends that it looked like the surface of the Moon. Geologists Harold T. Sterns coined the name "Craters of the Moon" in 1923 while trying to convince the National Park Service to recommend protection of the area in a national monument. Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ... A legend (Latin, legenda, things to be read) is a narrative of human actions that are perceived both by teller and listeners to take place within human history and to possess certain qualities that give the tale verisimilitude. ... Crust composition Oxygen 43% Silicon 21% Aluminium 10% Calcium 9% Iron 9% Magnesium 5% Titanium 2% Nickel 0. ... 1923 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... A U.S. National Monument is a protected area of the United States that is similar to a national park (specifically a U.S. National Park) except that the President of the United States can quickly declare an area of the United States to be a national monument without Congressional...

Limbert's expedition

The black soil on Inferno Cone exhibits the properties Limbert wrote about.

Robert Limbert, a sometime taxidermist, tanner and furrier from Boise, Idaho, explored the area, which he described as "practically unknown and unexplored, " in the 1920s after hearing stories from fur trappers about "strange things they had seen while ranging the region." Download high resolution version (1000x463, 36 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Download high resolution version (1000x463, 36 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... This article deals with the state capital of Idaho. ... Sometimes referred to as the Jazz Age or primarily in North America as the Roaring Twenties . In Europe it is sometimes refered to as the Golden Twenties. ...

Limbert wrote: "I had made two trips into the northern end, covering practically the same region as that traversed by a Geological Survey party in 1901. My first was a hiking and camping trip with Ad Santel (the wrestler), Dr. Dresser, and Albert Jones; the second was with Wes Watson and Era Martin (ranchers living about four miles [6 km] from the northern edge). The peculiar features seen on those trips led me to take a third across the region in the hope that even more interesting phenomena might be encountered." [2]

Limbert set out on his third and most ambitious foray to the area in 1924, this time with W.C. Cole and an Airedale Terrier to accompany him. Starting from Minidoka, Idaho, they explored what is now the monument area from south to north passing Two Point Butte, Echo Crater, Big Craters, North Crater Flow, and out of the lava field through the Yellowstone Park and Lincoln Highway (now known as the Old Arco-Carey Road). Taking the dog along was a mistake, Limbert wrote, "for after three days' travel his feet were worn and bleeding." 1924 was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... The Airedale Terrier (often shortened to Airedale) is a large and versatile terrier dog breed originating from the Aire Dale in Yorkshire, England, in the UK. It is often called the King of Terriers because it is the largest of the terrier breeds, 50 to 70 pounds (23-32 kg). ... Minidoka is a city located in Minidoka County, Idaho. ... State nickname: Gem State Other U.S. States Capital Boise Largest city Boise Governor Dirk Kempthorne (R) Senators Larry Craig (R) Mike Crapo (R) Official language(s) none Area 216,632 km² (14th)  - Land 214,499 km²  - Water 2,133 km² (0. ...

A series of newspaper and magazine articles authored by Limbert were later published about this and previous treks, increasing public awareness of the area. The most famous of these was an article that appeared in a 1924 issue of National Geographic where he called the area "Craters of the Moon," helping to solidify the use of that name. In the article he had this to say about the cobalt blue of the Blue Dragon Flows: A collection of magazines A magazine is a periodical publication containing a variety of articles. ... The National Geographic Society was founded in the USA on January 27, 1888, by 33 men interested in organizing a society for the increase and diffusion of geographical knowledge. ... This article is on the chemical element. ...

"It is the play of light at sunset across this lava that charms the spectator. It becomes a twisted, wavy sea. In the moonlight its glazed surface has a silvery sheen. With changing conditions of light and air, it varies also, even while one stands and watches. It is a place of color and silence..."

Protection and later history

Management sections. Together the NPS Developed Area and NPS Wilderness Area made up the 1970 to 2000 extent of the Monument.

In large part due to Limbert's work, Craters of the Moon National Monument was proclaimed on May 2, 1924 by U.S. President Calvin Coolidge to "preserve the unusual and weird volcanic formations." The Craters Inn and several cabins were built in 1927 for convenience of visitors. The Mission 66 Program initiated construction of today's road system, visitor center, shop, campround and comfort station in 1956 and in 1959 the Craters of the Moon Natural History Association was formed to assist the monument in educational activities. The addition of an island of vegetation completely surrounded by lava known as Carey Kipuka ( air photo) increased the size of the monument by 5360 acres (22 km²) in 1962. Download high resolution version (500x650, 42 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (500x650, 42 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... May 2 is the 122nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (123rd in leap years). ... John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. ... 1927 was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Download high resolution version (1724x1148, 371 KB)PD NPS image from Image:Kings Bowl and Great Rift from air. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Since then the monument has been enlarged and on October 23, 1970 the United States Congress set aside a large part of it, 43,243 acres (175.00 km²) as Craters of the Moon National Wilderness, protecting that part under the National Wilderness Preservation System. October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... 1970 (MCMLXX) was a common year starting on Thursday. ... The Congress of the United States is the legislative branch of the federal government of the United States of America. ... The Craters of the Moon National Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Idaho. ...

Much later NASA visited the real Moon through the Apollo program and found that its surface does not closely resemble this part of Idaho. NASA astronauts discovered that real Moon craters were almost all created by impacting meteorites while their namesakes on Earth were created by volcanic eruptions. One thing is very similar between the two places; they are both desolate. Apollo astronauts, as a matter of fact, performed part of their training at Craters of the Moon Lava Field. There they learned how to look for and collect good rock specimens in an unfamiliar and harsh environment. NASA Logo Listen to this article · (info) This audio file was created from the revision dated 2005-09-01, and does not reflect subsequent edits to the article. ... Description Role: Earth and Lunar Orbit Crew: 3; CDR, CM pilot, LM pilot Dimensions Height: 36. ... U.S. Space Shuttle astronaut Bruce McCandless II using a manned maneuvering unit (MMU) outside the Challenger in 1984. ... A meteorite is a small extraterrestrial body that reaches the Earths surface. ... Earth, also known as the Earth, Terra, and (mostly in the 19th century) Tellus, is the third-closest planet to the Sun. ... This article is about volcanoes in geology. ... Our earth is composed of three main types of rock, each having been formed in its own special way. ...

For many years, geologists, biologists and environmentalists have advocated for expansion of the monument and its transformation into a national park. Part of that goal was reached in 2000 when the monument was expanded 13-fold from 53,545 acres (216.69 km²) to its current size in order to encompass the entire Great Rift zone and its three lava fields. The entire addition is called the Backcountry Area while the two older parts are called the Developed Area and Wilderness Area. Opposition by cattle interests and hunters to a simple expansion plan led to a compromise of having the addition be a national preserve (which allows uses not ordinarily permitted in national parks and monuments in the U.S.) Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is co-managed by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. This article is about the year 2000. ... National Preserve is a designation applied by the United States Congress to protected areas that have characteristics normally associated with US National Parks but where certain activities not allowed in National Parks are permitted. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is an agency within the United States Department of the Interior which administers Americas public lands, totaling 262 million acres (1,060,000 km²) or one-eighth of the landmass of the country. ...

Geology

LANDSAT satellite photo showing the entire Great Rift volcanic zone and its three lava fields.

Ample evidence has prompted geologists to theorize that the Snake River Plain is a volcanic province that was created by a series of cataclysmic caldera-forming eruptions which started about 15 million years ago (see supervolcano). A migrating hotspot thought to now exist under Yellowstone National Park has been implicated (see Yellowstone Caldera). This hot spot was under the Craters of the Moon area some 10 to 11 million years ago (meaning Craters of the Moon once looked like Yellowstone does today and Yellowstone will one day look much like Craters of the Moon does now) but 'moved' as the North American Plate migrated northwestward (actually the hot spot stays in the same place while the overlying continent of North America moves). Pressure from the hot spot heaves the land surface up, creating fault-block mountains. After the hot spot passes the pressure is released and the land subsides (this is in addition to caldera-created subsidence). Download high resolution version (650x950, 158 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (650x950, 158 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Big Southern Butte The Snake River Plain is a geological feature of (primarily) the American state of Idaho. ... Crater Lake, Oregon A caldera is a volcanic feature formed by the collapse of a volcano into itself. ... A supervolcano refers to a volcano that produces the largest and most voluminous kinds of eruptions on earth. ... In geology, a hotspot is a location on the Earths surface that has experienced active volcanism for a long period of time. ... Yellowstone National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. ... The Yellowstone Caldera, also known as the Yellowstone supervolcano, is a volcanically active region in Yellowstone National Park. ... The North American plate is shown in brown on this map The North American Plate is a continental tectonic plate covering the continent of North America, extending eastward to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and westward to the Cherskiy Range in East Siberia. ... World map showing North America A satellite composite image of North America North America is a continent in the northern hemisphere bordered on the north by the Arctic Ocean, on the east by the North Atlantic Ocean, on the south by the Caribbean Sea, and on the west by the...

Leftover heat from this hot spot was later liberated by Basin and Range associated rifting and created the many overlapping lava flows that make up the Lava Beds of Idaho. The largest rift zone is the appropriately named Great Rift and it is from this fissure system that Craters of the Moon, Kings Bowl, and Wapi lava fields were created. Basin and Range index map - USGS The Basin and Range Province is a particular type of topography that covers much of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico that is typified by elongate north-south trending arid valleys bounded by mountain ranges which also bound adjacent valleys. ... The Great Rift is the Land of the Dwarves in the fictional setting of Faerûn. ...

In spite of its fresh appearance, and according to Mel Kuntz and other USGS geologists, the oldest flows in the Craters of the Moon Lava Field are 15,000 years old and the youngest erupted about 2000 years ago. Nevertheless the volcanic fissures at Craters of the Moon are considered to be dormant, not extinct and are expected to erupt sometime during the next thousand years. There are eight major eruptive periods recognized in the Craters of the Moon Lava Field. Each period lasted about 1000 years or less and were separated by relatively quiet periods that lasted between a 500 to as long as 3000 years. Individual lava flows were up to 30 miles (50 km) long (the Blue Dragon Flow is the longest). The United States Geological Survey (USGS) is a scientific agency of the United States government. ...

Kings Bowl and Great Rift from air. King's Bowl is a phreatic explosion pit 280 feet (85 m) long, 100 feet (30 m) wide, and 100 feet deep, caused by lava coming in contact with groundwater producing a steam explosion 2,200 years ago. (NPS photo)

Kings Bowl Lava Field erupted during a single fissure eruption on the southern part of the Great Rift about 2,250 years ago. This eruption probably lasted only a few hours to a few days. The field preserves explosion pits, lava lakes, squeeze-ups, basalt mounds, and an ash blanket. Wapi Lava Field probably formed from a fissure eruption simultaneously with the eruption of the Kings Bowl field. With more prolonged activity over a period of months to a few years, the Wapi field formed a low shield volcano. The Bear Trap lava tube, located between the Craters of the Moon and the Wapi lava fields, is a cave system more than 15 miles (25 km) long. The lava tube is remarkable for its length and for the number of well preserved lava-cave features, such as lava stalactites and curbs, the latter marking high stands of the flowing lava forever frozen on the lava tube walls. The lava tubes and pit craters of the monument are known for their unusual preservation of winter ice and snow into the hot summer months, due to shielding from the sun and the insulating properties of the basalt. Download high resolution version (1561x1050, 242 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (1561x1050, 242 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Mauna Kea, a shield volcano, on the Island of Hawai‘i with a light dusting of snow. ... Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) This article is about natural caves; for artificial caves used as dwellings, such as those in north China, see yaodong. ... Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow. ... The Sun is the star at the centre of our Solar system. ...

Cinder crags from North Crater on the North Crater Flow

A typical eruption along the Great Rift and similar basaltic rift systems in the world starts with a curtain of very fluid lava shooting up along a segment of the rift. As the eruption continues pressure and heat decrease and the chemistry of the lava becomes slightly more silica rich. The curtain of lava responds by breaking apart into separate vents. Various types of volcanos may form at these vents; gas-rich pulverized lava creates cinder cones (such as Inferno Cone – stop 4) and pasty lava blobs form spatter cones (such as Spatter Cones – stop 5). Later stages of an eruption push lava streams out through the side or bottom of cinder cones (usually ending the life of the cinder cone; North Crater, Watchmen, and Sheep Trail Butte are notable exceptions). This will sometimes breach part of the cone and carry it away as large and craggy blocks of cinder (as seen at North Crater Flow – stop 2 – and Devils Orchard – stop 3). Solid crust forms over lava streams and lava tudes (a type of cave) are created when lava vacates its course (great examples can be seen at the Cave Area – stop 7). Download high resolution version (1000x664, 170 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Download high resolution version (1000x664, 170 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... The chemical compound silicon dioxide, also known as silica, is the oxide of silicon, chemical formula SiO2. ... A volcano is a geological landform (usually a mountain) where a substance, usually magma (rock of the Earths interior made molten or liquid by extremely high temperatures along with a reduction in pressure and/or the introduction of water or other volatiles) erupts through the surface of a planet. ... Cinder Cone is a cinder cone volcano in Lassen Volcanic National Park. ...

Geologists feared that a large earthquake that shook Borah Peak, Idaho's tallest mountain, in 1983 would restart volcanic activity at Craters of the Moon, though this proved not to be the case. Geologists predict that the area will experience its next eruption some time in the next 900 years with the most likely period in the next 100 years. Global earthquake epicenters, 1963–1998 An earthquake is a sudden and sometimes catastrophic movement of a part of the Earths surface. ... Borah Peak (also known as Mount Borah) is the tallest mountain in Idaho, located in the Challis National Forest. ... Mount McKinley in Alaska has one of the largest visible base-to-summit elevation differences anywhere A mountain is a landform that extends above the surrounding terrain in a limited area. ... 1983 (MCMLXXXIII) is a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

NOTE: Eruptions were dated using paleomagnetic and radiocarbon methods, which together give dates that are considered accurate to within 100 years. Both tests were conducted in 1980 by using charred vegetation directly below individual flows (for the radiocarbon test), and from rock core samples (for the paleomagnetic work). Paleomagnetism refers to the orientation of the Earths magnetic field as it is preserved in various magnetic iron bearing minerals throughout time. ... Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring isotope carbon-14 to determine the age of carbonaceous materials up to ca. ...

Biology

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel at Devil's Orchard

Years of cataloging by biologists and park rangers have recorded 375 species of plants, 2000 insects, 8 reptiles, 169 birds, 48 mammals, and even one amphibian (the Western Toad). Brown Bears once roamed this lava field but have long ago become locally extinct. Mule Deer, Bobcats, Great-horned Owls, Prairie Falcons, Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels are some examples. Traditional livestock grazing continues within the grass/shrublands administered by the BLM. Photo taken by Daniel Mayer and released under terms of the GNU FDL. File links The following pages link to this file: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve User:Maveric149/images/Idaho Categories: GFDL images ... Photo taken by Daniel Mayer and released under terms of the GNU FDL. File links The following pages link to this file: Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve User:Maveric149/images/Idaho Categories: GFDL images ... In biology, the most commonly used definition of species was first coined by Ernst Mayr. ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... Classes & Orders Subclass: Apterygota Orders Archaeognatha (Bristletails) Thysanura (Silverfish) Monura - extinct Subclass: Pterygota Orders Ephemeroptera (mayflies) Odonata (dragonflies and damselflies) Diaphanopteroidea - extinct Palaeodictyoptera - extinct Megasecoptera - extinct Archodonata - extinct Infraclass: Neoptera Orders Blattodea (cockroaches) Isoptera (termites) Mantodea (mantids) Dermaptera (earwigs) Plecoptera (stoneflies) Orthoptera (grasshoppers, etc) Phasmatodea (walking sticks) Embioptera (webspinners) Zoraptera... Orders  Crocodilia - Crocodilians  Rhynchocephalia - Tuataras  Squamata   Suborder Sauria- Lizards   Suborder Serpentes - Snakes   Suborder Amphisbaenia - Worm lizards Testudines - Turtles Superorder Dinosauria  Saurischia  Ornithischia The reptiles are a group of vertebrate animals. ... Orders Many - see section below. ... Orders Subclass Multituberculata (extinct) Plagiaulacida Cimolodonta Subclass Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Subclass Triconodonta (extinct) Subclass Placentalia Afrosoricida Artiodactyla Carnivora Cetacea Chiroptera Cimolesta (extinct) Creodonta (extinct) Condylarthra (extinct) Dermoptera Desmostylia (extinct) Embrithopoda (extinct) Hyracoidea Insectivora Lagomorpha Litopterna (extinct) Macroscelidea Mesonychia (extinct) Notoungulata (extinct) Perissodactyla Pholidota Plesiadapiformes (extinct) Primates Proboscidea Rodentia Scandentia Sirenia Taeniodonta... For other uses, see Amphibian (disambiguation). ... Binomial name Ursus arctos Linnaeus, 1758 Brown bear footprint The Brown Bear (Ursus arctos) is a species of bear that can reach weights of 130–700 kg (300–1500 pounds). ... In biology and ecology, extinction is the ceasing of existence of a species or group of taxons. ... Binomial name Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817) The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hermionus ) is a deer whose habitat is in the western half of North America. ... Binomial name Lynx rufus (Schreber, 1777) The Bobcat (Lynx rufus, or Felis rufus) is a small wild cat indigenous to North America. ... Binomial name Falco mexicanus Schlegel, 1850 The Prairie Falcon (Falco mexicanus) is a medium-sized falcon of western North America. ... Binomial name Spermophilus lateralis (Say, 1823) The Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel (Spermophilus lateralis) lives in all types of forests across North America. ... Sheep are commonly bred as livestock. ...

Conditions

This scoria field shows typical conditions at Craters of the Moon.

All plants and animals who live in and around Craters of the Moon are under great environmental stress due to constant dry winds and heat absorbing black lavas that tend to quickly sap water from living things. Summer soil temperatures often exceed 150 °F (65 °C) and plant cover is generally less than 5% on cinder cones and about 15% over the entire monument. Adaptation is therefore the secret to survival in this semi-arid harsh climate. Photo taken by Daniel Mayer and released under terms of the GNU FDL. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Photo taken by Daniel Mayer and released under terms of the GNU FDL. File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Divisions Land plants (embryophytes) Non-vascular plants (bryophytes) Marchantiophyta - liverworts Anthocerotophyta - hornworts Bryophyta - mosses Vascular plants (tracheophytes) Lycopodiophyta - clubmosses Equisetophyta - horsetails Pteridophyta - true ferns Psilotophyta - whisk ferns Ophioglossophyta - adderstongues Seed plants (spermatophytes) †Pteridospermatophyta - seed ferns Pinophyta - conifers Cycadophyta - cycads Ginkgophyta - ginkgo Gnetophyta - gnetae Magnoliophyta - flowering plants Adiantum pedatum (a fern... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Wind is the quasi-horizontal movement of air (as opposed to an air current) caused by Howard Sterns asshole. ... Look up Lava, ‘A‘a, or Pāhoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ... Water (from the Old English word wæter; c. ... Soil is unconsolidated rock particles mixed with organic matter from plant decay. ... Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, a cinder-and-spatter cone on Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcano formations. ... Semi-arid generally describes regions that receive low annual rainfall (25 to 50 cm /10 to 20 in) and generally have scrub or grass vegetation. ...

Water is usually only found deep inside holes at the bottom of blow-out craters. The black soil on and around cinder cones does not hold moisture for long, making it difficult for plants to establish themselves. Soil particles first develop from direct rock decomposition by lichens and typically collect in crevices in lava flows. Successively more complex plants then colonize the microhabitat created by the increasingly productive soil. Soil is unconsolidated rock particles mixed with organic matter from plant decay. ... Crustose and foliose lichens on a wall Lichens are symbiotic organisms made up by the association of microscopic green algae or cyanobacteria and filamentous fungi. ...

The shaded north slopes of cinder cones provide more protection from direct sunlight and prevailing southwesterly winds and also have a more persistent snow cover (an important water source in early spring). These parts of cinder cones are therefore colonized by plants first. The Sun is the star at the centre of our Solar system. ...

Plants

Monkeyflowers

Wildflowers add a bit of color to the dark and barren landscape from early May to late September (most are gone by late August). Moisture from snowmelt along with some rainfall in late spring kick-starts the germination of annual plants, including wildflowers. Most of these plants complete their entire life cycle in the few months each year that moisture levels are good. The onset of summer decreases the number of wildflowers and by autumn only the tiny yellow flowers of sagebrush and rabbitbrush remain. Some wildflowers that grow in the area; Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Five wildflower species A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. ... This article is about the month of May. ... September is the ninth month of the year in the Gregorian Calendar and one of four Gregorian months with 30 days. ... Note: as an adjective (stressed on the second syllable instead of the first), august means honorable. ... In a botanical sense, germination is the process of emergence of growth from a resting stage. ... A life cycle includes the major sexual stages of a species, especially in regard to its ploidy. ... Wildflowers A flower is the reproductive structure of those plants classified as angiosperms (flowering plants; Division Magnoliophyta). ...

• Arrow-leaved Balsamroot
• Bitterroot
• Blazing Star
• Desert Parsley
• Dwarf Monkeyflower
• Paintbrush
• Scorpionweed
• Scabland Penstemon
• Wild Onion

When wildflowers are not in bloom, most of the vegetation is found in semi-hidden pockets and consists of pine trees, cedars, junipers, and sagebrush. Strategies used by plants to cope with the adverse conditions include; Binomial name Lewisia rediviva Pursh The bitterroot (Lewisia rediviva Pursch) is a small, low, pink flower with yellow center that is the state flower of Montana in the United States. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... This article deals with the tree; for the e-mail client see Pine email client Species About 115. ... Species 50-55 species; see text. ... Binomial name Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ...

• Drought tolerance by physiological adaptations such as the ability to survive extreme dehydration or the ability to extract water from very dry soil. Sagebrush and Antelope Briterbrush are examples.
• Drought avoidance by having small, hairy, or succulent leaves to minimize moisture loss or otherwise conserve water. Hairs on scorpionweed, the succulent parts of the Pricklypear Cactus, and the small leaves of the Wire Lettuce are all local examples.

Syringa in North Crater lava flow crack

• Drought escape by growing in small crevices or near persistent water supplies, or by staying dormant for about 95% of the year. Mosses and ferns in the area grow near constant water sources such as natural potholes and seeps from ice caves. Scabland Penstemon, Fernleaf Fleabane, and Gland Cinquefoil grow in shallow crevices. Syringa, Bush Rockspirea, Tansybush, and even Limber Pine grow in large crevices. While Dwarf Monkeyflowers carry out their entire life cycle during the short wet part of the year and survive in seed form the rest of the time.

A common plant seen on the lava field is the Dwarf Buckweat ( photo), a 4 inch (100 mm) tall flowering plant with a 3 foot (1 m) wide root system. The root system monopolizes soil moisture in its immediate area, resulting in individual plants that are evenly spaced. Consequently, many visitors have asked park rangers if the buckwheat were systematically planted. Dehydration is the removal of water (hydor in ancient Greek) from an object. ... In botany, a leaf is an above-ground plant organ specialized for photosynthesis. ... Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Subclasses Sphagnidae Andreaeidae Tetraphidae Polytrichidae Archidiidae Buxbaumiidae Bryidae Moss gametophyte plants with a single sporophyte. ... Classes Marattiopsida Osmundopsida Gleicheniopsida Pteridopsida A fern, or pteridophyte, is any one of a group of some twenty thousand species of plants classified in the Division Pteridophyta, formerly known as Filicophyta. ... Alternate meaning: Lilac (color) Species About 20-25 species; see text. ... Binomial name Pinus flexilis ( var. ... A life cycle includes the major sexual stages of a species, especially in regard to its ploidy. ... A seed is the ripened ovule of gymnosperm or angiosperm plants. ... Download high resolution version (1000x720, 147 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Classes Magnoliopsida - Dicots Liliopsida - Monocots The flowering plants (also angiosperms) are a major group of land plants. ...

Gaps were sometimes left unmolested by lava but were nonetheless completely surrounded by it. These literal islands of habitat are called kipukas, a Hawaiian name used for older land surrounded by younger lava. Carey Kipuka is one such area in the southernmost part of the monument and is used as a benchmark to measure how plant cover has changed in less pristine parts of southern Idaho. A Kipuka is an island of land completely surrounded by one or more younger lava flows. ... Hawaiian is the ancestral language of the indigenous people of the Hawaiian Islands, the Hawaiians, a Polynesian people. ...

Mule Deer

In May 1980 wildlife researcher Brad Griffith of the University of Idaho started a three year study to mark and count the Mule Deer in the monument. The National Park Service was concerned that the local herd might grow so large that it would damage its habitat. Griffith found that this group of Mule Deer has developed a totally unique drought evasion strategy for its species. 1980 (MCMLXXX) is a leap year starting on Tuesday. ... The University of Idaho is a land-grant university formed by the Territorial Legislature of Idaho in 1889, located in Moscow, Idaho. ... Binomial name Odocoileus hemionus (Rafinesque, 1817) The Mule Deer (Odocoileus hermionus ) is a deer whose habitat is in the western half of North America. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ... Habitat (from the Latin for it inhabits) is the place where a particular species lives and grows. ... A drought is an extended period where water availability falls below the statistical requirements for a region. ... In biology, the most commonly used definition of species was first coined by Ernst Mayr. ...

The deer arrive in the southern part of the pre-2000 extent of the monument mid-April each year once winter snows have melted away enough to allow for foraging. He found that by late summer plants in the area have already matured and dried to the point that they can no longer provide enough moisture to sustain the deer. In late July after about 12 days above 80 ° F (27 °C) and warm nights above 50° F (10 °C) the herd migrates 5 to 10 miles (8 to 16 km) north to the Pioneer Mountains to obtain water from free-flowing streams and shade themselves in aspen and Douglas-fir groves. Rain in late September prompts the herd to return to the monument to feed on bitterbrush until snow in November triggers them to migrate back to their winter range. This herd, therefore, has a dual summer range. It is also very productive with one of the highest fawn survival rates of any herd in the species. Subfamilies Capreolinae Cervinae Hydropotinae Muntiacinae Defined strictly, a deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. ... Summer is a season, defined by convention in meteorology as the whole months of June, July, and August, in the Northern hemisphere, and the whole months of December, January, and February, in the Southern hemisphere. ... Subfamilies Capreolinae Cervinae Hydropotinae Muntiacinae Defined strictly, a deer is a ruminant mammal belonging to the family Cervidae. ... A running stream. ... Species Populus adenopoda Populus alba Populus grandidentata Populus sieboldii Populus tremula Populus tremuloides Aspens are trees of the willow family and comprise a section of the poplar genus Populus sect. ... Species See text. ... Rain falling For other uses see Rain (disambiguation). ... A fresh snowfall in Colorados (USA) high forests. ... Genera About 15 in 4 subfamilies. ...

Afternoon winds usually die down in the evening, prompting behavioral modifications in the herd. The deer avoid the dry wind by being more active at night when the wind is not blowing. In 1991 there was a three-year average of 420 Mule Deer. 1991 (MCMXCI) is a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Recreational Activities

Craters of the Moon Loop Drive map

A series of fissure vents, cinder cones, spatter cones, rafted blocks, and overlapping lava flows are accessible from the 7 mile (11 km) long Loop Drive. Wildflowers, shrubs, trees, and wild animals can be seen by hiking on one of the many trails in the monument or by just pulling over into one of the turn-offs. More rugged hiking opportunities are available in the Craters of the Moon Wilderness Area and Backcountry Area the roadless southern and major part of the monument. Download high resolution version (678x640, 46 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (678x640, 46 KB)NPS image from http://www. ... Pu‘u ‘Ō‘ō, a cinder-and-spatter cone on Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanic cones are among the simplest volcano formations. ... In computer programming jargon, lava flow is a problem in which computer code, usually written under less than optimal conditions, is put into production and then built on when still in a developmental state. ... Five wildflower species A wildflower is a flower that grows wild, meaning it was not intentionally seeded or planted. ... Phyla Porifera (sponges) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria Placozoa Subregnum Bilateria  Acoelomorpha  Orthonectida  Rhombozoa  Myxozoa  Superphylum Deuterostomia     Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Beautiful natural scenes are common hiking destinations Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... A typical rural county road in Indiana, USA, where traffic drives on the right. ...

Ranger-led walks are available in summer and cover different topics such as wildlife, flowers, plants, or geology. Self-guiding tours and displays are available year-round and are easily accessible from the Loop Drive.

1. The Visitor Center is located near the monument's only entrance. Various displays and publications along with a short film about the geology of the area help to orient visitors.
2. A less than 1/4 mile (400 m) long paved trail at North Crater Flow ( photo) goes through the Blue Dragon Lava Flow, which formed about 2200 years ago, making it one of the youngest lava flows on the Craters of the Moon Lava Field. This lava is named for the purplish-blue tint that tiny pieces of obsidian (volcanic glass) on its surface exhibit. Good examples of pahoehoe (roppy), aa (jagged), and some block lava are readily visible along with large rafted crater wall fragments. A steep 1/2 mile (800 m) long trail continues on to the North Crater overlook on top of the 440 foot (134 m) tall, 2300 year old cinder cone. The rafted crater wall fragments seen on the flow trail were once part of this cinder cone but were torn away when the volcano's lava-filled crater was breached. A 1.5 mile (2.4 km) long trail includes the 1/2 mile (800 m) long overlook trail but continues on through the crater and to the Big Craters/Spatter Cones parking lot (see below).
3. Devils Orchard ( photo) is a group of lava transported cinder cone fragments (also called monoliths or cinder crags) that stand in cinders. Like the blocks at stop 2 they were once part of the North Crater cinder cone but broke off during an eruption of lava. A 1/2 mile (800 m) log paved loop trial through the formations and trees of the "orchard" is available. The interpretive displays on the trail emphasize human impacts to the area.

   

   

   Craters of the Moon National Monument from Inferno Cone Viewpoint

4. Inferno Cone Viewpoint is located on top of Inferno Cone cinder cone. A short but steep trail up the cinder cone leads to an overlook of the entire monument. From there the Spatter Cones can be seen just to the south along with a large part of the Great Rift. In the distance is the 800 foot (240 m) tall approximately 6000 year old Big Cinder Butte, one of the world's largest, purely basaltic, cinder cones. Further away are the Pioneer Mountains (behind the Visitor Center) and beyond the monument are the White Knob Mountains, the Lost River Range, and the Lemhi Range.
5. Big Craters and Spatter Cones ( photo) sit directly along the local part of the Great Rift fissure. Spatter cones are created by accumulations of pasty gas-poor lava as they erupt from a vent. Big Craters is a cinder cone complex located less than 1/4 mile (400 m) up a steep foot trail.
6. Tree Molds ( photo) is an area within the Craters of the Moon Wilderness where lava flows overran part of a forest. The trees were incinerated but as some of them burned they released enough water to cool the lava to form a cast. Some of these casts survived the eruption and mark the exact location and shape of the burning trees in the lava. Both holes and horizontal molds were left, some still showing shapes indicative of bark. The actual Tree Molds area is located a mile (1.6 km) from the Tree Molds parking lot and picnic area off a moderately difficult wilderness trail. This trail continues past the Tree Molds and 3 miles (5 km) further into the wilderness area before gradually disappearing near Echo Crater. A pull off on the spur road leading to the Tree Molds area presents the Lava Cascades, a frozen river of Blue Dragon Flow lava that temporarily pooled in the Big Sink.
7. Cave Area is the final stop on Loop Drive and, as the name indicates, has a collection of lava tube caves. Formed from the Blue Dragon Flow, the caves are located a half mile (800 m) from the parking lot and include,

• Dewdrop Cave,
• Boy Scout Cave,
• Beauty Cave,
• Surprise Cave, and
• Indian Tunnel.

The caves are open to visitors but flashlights are needed except in Indian Tunnel and some form of head protection is highly recommended when exploring any of the caves. Lava tubes are created when the sides and surface of a lava flow hardens. If the fluid interior flows away a cave is left behind.

Craters of the Moon Campground has 52 sites – none of which can be reserved in advance. Camping facilities are basic but do include water, restrooms, charcoal grills, and trash containers. National Park Service rangers present evening programs at the campground amphitheater in the summer. Download high resolution version (1200x240, 35 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Look up Lava, ‘A‘a, or Pāhoehoe in Wiktionary, the free dictionary Lava is molten rock that a volcano expels during an eruption. ... Obsidian from Lake County, Oregon Top stone is obsidian, below that is pumice and in lower right hand is rhyolite (light color) Obsidian is a type of naturally occurring glass, produced from volcanoes when a fluid felsic lava cools rapidly and freezes without sufficient time for crystal growth, for example... The materials definition of a glass is a uniform amorphous solid material, usually produced when a suitably viscous molten material cools very rapidly to below its glass transition temperature, thereby not giving enough time for a regular crystal lattice to form. ... Download high resolution version (1000x635, 97 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Binomial name Homo sapiens Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies Homo sapiens idaltu (extinct) Homo sapiens sapiens For other uses, see Human (disambiguation). ... Download high resolution version (2000x417, 146 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Download high resolution version (2000x417, 146 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Basalt Basalt is an extrusive igneous rock, sometimes porphyritic, and is often both fine-grained and dense. ... Download high resolution version (1000x532, 66 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... Download high resolution version (800x608, 119 KB)Image taken in July 2004 by Daniel Mayer. ... A dense growth of softwoods (a forest) in the Sierra Nevada Range of Northern California A forest is an area with a high density of trees (or, historically, a wooded area set aside for hunting). ... For other meanings of bark, see Bark (disambiguation). ... In contemporary usage, picnic can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors, ideally, taking place in a beautiful landscape. ... Alternate meanings: Cave (disambiguation) This article is about natural caves; for artificial caves used as dwellings, such as those in north China, see yaodong. ... Green flashlight Flashlight is the NATO designation for the Yakovlev Yak-25 Soviet military jet. ... Lava tubes are natural conduits through which lava travels beneath the surface of a lava flow. ... Camping is an outdoor recreational activity involving the spending of one or more nights in a tent, primitive structure, a travel trailer or recreational vehicle at a campsite with the purpose of getting away from civilization and enjoying nature. ... Water (from the Old English word wæter; c. ... Charcoal is the blackish residue consisting of impure carbon obtained by removing water and other volatile constituents of animal and vegetable substances. ... The National Park Service (NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation and historical properties with various title designations. ...

Backcountry hiking is available in the 68 square mile (180 km²) Craters of the Moon Wilderness and the much larger Backcountry Area beyond (added in 2000). Only two trails enter the wilderness area and even those stop after a few miles or kilometers. From there most hikers follow the Great Rift and explore its series of seldom-visited volcanic features. All overnight backcountry hikes require registration with a ranger. No drinking water is available in the backcountry and the dry climate quickly dehydrates hikers. Avoiding summer heat and winter cold are therefore recommended by rangers. Pets, camp fires, and all mechanized vehicles, including bicycles, are not allowed in the wilderness area. Beautiful natural scenes are common hiking destinations Hiking is a form of walking, undertaken with the specific purpose of exploring and enjoying the scenery. ... Broadly, a wilderness area is a region where the land is left in a state where human modifications are minimal; that is, as a wilderness. ... This racing bicycle is built using lightweight, shaped aluminium tubing and carbon fiber stays and forks. ...

North Crater in winter (NPS photo)

Skiing is allowed on the Loop Drive after it is closed to traffic in late November due to snow drifts. Typically there are 18 inches (46 cm) of snow by January and 3 feet (90 cm) by March. Cross-country skiing off of Loop Drive is allowed but may be dangerous due to sharp lava and hidden holes under the snow. Blizzards and other inclement weather may occur. Download high resolution version (1780x1160, 299 KB)PD NPS image from http://www. ... Download high resolution version (1780x1160, 299 KB)PD NPS image from http://www. ... A snow drift is a deposit of snow created by wind. ... A fresh snowfall in Colorados (USA) high forests. ... Skiing by free technique/skating Cross-country skiing (aka XC skiing) is an adventure and fitness activity as well as a competitive winter sport popular in many countries with large snowfields, primarily in Europe and Canada. ... Blizzards are characterized by high winds and blinding precipitation Sudden blizzards can cause terrible damage to infrastructure as well as danger to human life. ... Composite satellite image showing the progress of a hurricane weather system approaching the East Coast of the United States Weather comprises all the various phenomena that occur in the atmosphere of a planet. ...

Nearby protected areas

• Yellowstone National Park is world famous for its geysers, mudpots, Yellowstone Canyon, waterfalls, and wildlife such as the American Bison and reintroduced wolfs.
• Grand Teton National Park includes the steep, glacially-carved Teton Range, tectonically-created Jackson Hole valley, and a string of moraine-impounded lakes.
• Nez Perce National Historical Park has 24 archaeological sites in north-central Idaho of the Nez Perce culture.
• Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument protects Pliocene-aged fossil sites along the Snake River.
• City of Rocks National Reserve contains various monoliths, spires, and domes used by the Northern Shoshone and white emigrants on the California Trail. Rock climbing is a popular activity in the reserve.

Yellowstone National Park is a U.S. National Park located in the states of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. ... Clepsydra Geyser in Yellowstone A geyser is a type of hot spring that erupts periodically, ejecting a column of hot water and steam into the air. ... Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone downstream from Upper Fall The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone is a large canyon of the Yellowstone River that is located in Yellowstone National Park in the United States of America. ... A Massapequa (NY) waterfall Tower Fall in Yellowstone National Park A waterfall is usually a geological formation resulting from water, often in the form of a stream, flowing over an erosion-resistant rock formation that forms a sudden break in elevation. ... Binomial name Bison bison Linnaeus, 1758 Subspecies B. b. ... Wolf Wolf Man Mount Wolf Wolf Prizes Wolf Spider Wolf 424 Wolf 359 Wolf Point Wolf-herring Frank Wolf Friedrich Wolf Friedrich August Wolf Hugo Wolf Johannes Wolf Julius Wolf Max Franz Joseph Cornelius Wolf Maximilian Wolf Rudolf Wolf Thomas Wolf As Name Wolf Breidenbach Wolf Hirshorn Other The call... Grand Teton National Park is a United States National Park located in western Wyoming, south of Yellowstone National Park. ... Aletsch glacier, Switzerland This article is about the geographical formation. ... The Teton Range The Teton Range is a small but dramatic mountain range of the Rocky Mountains in North America. ... Plate tectonics (from the Greek word for one who constructs, τεκτων, tekton) is a theory of geology developed to explain the phenomenon of continental drift, and is currently the theory accepted by the vast majority of scientists working in this area. ... Jackson Hole is a valley in the U.S. state of Wyoming. ... Moraine is the general term for debris of all sorts originally transported by glaciers or ice sheets that have since melted away. ... A Lake is a body of water surrounded by land. ... The Nez Perce National Historical Park is a United States National Historical Park comprisingf 38 sites located throughout the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, and Washington which are the traditional aboriginal lands of the Nez Perce. ... Archaeology or sometimes in American English archeology (from the Greek words αρχαίος = ancient and λόγος = word/speech) is the study of human cultures through the recovery, documentation and analysis of material remains, including architecture, artefacts, biofacts, human remains, and landscapes. ... Nez Perce photographed in the 19th century The Nez Perce or Nez Percé (pronounced /n3z pVrs/, or /ne perse/ as in French) are a tribe of Native Americans who inhabited the Pacific Northwest region of North America and adjoining regions at the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. ... Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument in Idaho contains the largest concentration of Hagerman Horse fossils in North America. ... The Pliocene epoch (a. ... A fossil Ammonite Fossils are the mineralized remains of animals or plants or other traces such as footprints. ... This article is about the Snake River in the northwestern United States. ... The City of Rocks or, more formally, the Silent City of Rocks is a US national reserve and state park just two miles north of the Utah border in south central Idaho. ... A monolith is a monument or natural feature such as a mountain, consisting of a single massive stone or rock. ... Shoshone around their tipi, probably taken around 1890 Shoshone Indians at Ft. ... California Trail The California Trail was a major overland emigrant route across the American West from Missouri to California in the middle 19th century. ... Climbers on Valkyrie at the Roaches. ...

References

• Craters of the Moon: National Park Handbook (139), National Park Service Division of Publications (Washington D.C., 1991)
• Craters of the Moon: Around the Loop, Paul Henderson (Craters of the Moon Natural History Association, 1986)
• Geology of U.S. Parklands: Fifth Edition, Eugene P. Kiver and David V. Harris (Jonh Wiley & Sons; New York; 1999) ISBN 0-471-33218-6
• National Park Service Facts, News,
• USGS: America's Volcanic Past – Craters of the Moon National Monument

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:

Craters of the Moon National Monument

• Official websites: NPS and BLM
• Photographic virtual tour of Craters of the Moon National Monument.
• Administrative History of Craters of the Moon
• http://kencole.nexuswebs.net/MiniPage/CRATERS1.HTML An Account of the First Expeditions Through the Remarkable Volcanic Lava Beds of Southern Idaho. by R. W. Limbert (1924)
• Presidential Proclamation 7373 (William Jefferson Clinton) – Boundary Enlargement of the Craters of the Moon National Monument (also used as a reference)