Sunset Crater is a volcanic cinder cone located north of Flagstaff in U.S. State of Arizona. The crater is within the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.
Sunset Crater is the youngest in a string of volcanoes (the San Francisco volcanic field) that is related to the nearby San Francisco Peaks.
The crater is the namesake for the Sunset Crater Beardtongue (Penstemon clutei). Since it erupted about 1,000 years ago, scientists can't really count it as extinct. It's most likely dormant.
Damage from hikers forced the National Park Service to close a trail leading to the crater, but a short trail at the base remains.
The hiking trail below the summit skirts the substantial Bonito Lava Flow. This hardened lava is black and appears fresh as it has devastated the forest in its path. The lava flow also created an ice cave or tube that is now closed to the public after a partial collapse.
Thank you Cecilia for this volcano with a special name!
Sent: 13 December 2014 Received: 5 January 2015 Travelled: 23 days
No comments:
Post a Comment