2014 Exploring The Northwest – DAY 3
Leaving Angel Creek earlier this morning, we made good time to arrive at Craters of the Moon National Monument, Idaho, by early afternoon. My brother Marcel and his wife Sandi arrived yesterday and secured three adjacent campsites.
We attended a couple of programs at the Visitor Center and watched a movie about how the Craters of the Moon were formed. This vast ocean of rock or lava is the result of a series of deep fissures – known as the Great Rift.
It started about 15,000 years ago, with the most recent eruption just 2,000 years ago, and a likelihood of future events. We learned about pahoehoe [basaltic lava with a smooth, billowy surfaces] and ‘a’a lava [lava with rough, jagged and clinkery surfaces] as well as the difference between spatter cones and cinder cones. By taking a seven-mile loop we saw examples of all of these, along with some very unique vegetation that manages to survive in this harsh environment.
Some of the Apollo Astronauts learned basic volcanic geology here as they prepared for their moon missions.
Unfortunately, Neil Armstrong visited Craters of the Moon Monument after landing on the moon, and reported that this was nothing like the moon – OOpppsss. While Craters of the Moon is of volcanic origin, lunar craters are the result of meteorite impact. The park service believed him, but selected not to change the name of this Monument – it remains Craters of the Moon. I guess it’s all about the cost of re-branding and marketing.
Comments