In the middle of the Snake River plain in south central Idaho one encounters an unearthly landscape, a 'vast ocean of lava flows with scattered islands of cinder cones and sagebrush.' The weird, rugged yet scenic lava fields cover 618 sq. miles. It is a strange, desolate and dark beauty that has to be seen, walked over, and crawled into to be believed and appreciated.
NASA astronauts came here in 1969 to learn about volcanic geology in preparation for their moon mission, and we were here in 2015 just because it piqued our interest. The experience was so fascinating and educational as well.
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| THE DEVIL'S ORCHARD |
A huge CINDER CONE on which we climbed 1/4 mile to the top
where a lonely tree bows to this unbelievable landscape.
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| SPATTER CONE with a path circling up to it's deep and colourful center |
Lichen grows on the lava which eventually creates soil for other plant life
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From a distance the landscape is dark but on closer inspection there are striking colours and formations.
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| TREE MOLDS As the lava flowed it knocked down trees and ignited them. The charred tree trunks left impressions or tree wells. |
Off to explore the caves
Walking over a collapsed lava tube.
Like a fallen pan of brownies.
DEW DROP CAVE
BOY SCOUT CAVE
BEAUTY CAVE
LOOKING BACK TO THE OPENING IN BEAUTY CAVE
INDIAN TUNNEL
600 feet long
DETAILS ON THE CEILING OF INDIAN TUNNEL
Craters of the Moon
"A Violent Past, Calm Present, an Uncertain Future."
In the past two weeks our feet have taken us over different volcanic areas and not without awe and respect towards our God for his hand of creation and fingerprints in all of it.
You had a lovely walk in the past......smf
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