Craters of the Moon volcano
Idaho (Canada and USA (mainland)), 43.42°N / -113.5°W
Current status: normal or dormant (1 out of 5)
The Craters of the Moon are located at the NW end of the largest lava field of the Snake River Plain in Idaho, USA. The volcanic field contains over 60 lava flows, 25 cinder cones up to 250-m high, and 8 eruptive fissure systems, and covers an area of 1600 km2.
The Craters of the Moon formed in 8 eruptive periods each lasting several hundred years, and separated by quiescence intervals of up to 3000 years. The eruptions began about 15,000 years ago, and ended with the most recent (so far) eruptions only 2100 years ago. In contrast to the Craters of the Moon, most other lava fields in the Snake River Plain formed during single, short eruptions.
On average, lava output rate was 1.5 cubic km/1000 years for the period 15,000 to 7,000 years ago and increased to 2.8 cubic km /1000 years for the interval from 7,000 to 2,000 years ago.
Craters of the Moon volcano eruptions: 130 BC ± 50 years
Latest nearby earthquakes
No recent earthquakesBackground
The 25 cinder cone formed primarily along a 45-km-long segment of the Great Rift, the principal 2-8 km wide fissure system that trends NW-SE through the Craters of the Moon National Monument. The northern part of the field is overlaps White Knob and Pioneer Mountains.Craters of the Moon Photos
Twilight over the craters and the full moon (Photo: Tom Pfeiffer) |
See also: Sentinel hub | Landsat 8 | NASA FIRMS
