This morning we hiked up the Bandera volcano in El Malpais National Monument, the largest of more than a dozen in this area. When Bandera erupted around 10,000 years ago, one side of its crater broke open and lava flowed for 23 miles.
The crater edge and beginning of the lava flow.
Part of the lava field.
A spatter cone, formed when hot air rushes through molten lava and breaks through the surface.
Bandera Crater, 1400 feet wide and 800 feet deep.
Near Bandera volcano is an ice cave. The temperature of the cave is a constant 31 degrees. As rain water seeps in it freezes and the cave is slowly filling up. The ice is green because of Arctic algae.
We had dinner at a restaurant outside El Malpais. There is an artists' colony here...
...and a friendly rooster.
At sunset, we visited Gallup's Red Rock Park...
...and Church Rock.
I try to imagine how people lived there in those limestone rooms. There was very little between them and the weather and also between them and the grandeur and awesomeness of the land. By the way, I see on the map that there is something in the vicinity called Lost Woman Crater--Anne, don't go there! You are also not far from the Navajo Reservation, although it may only look close on the map. I bet your legs are getting really strong from all the hiking.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the warning, Jane! Yes, we drove through the Navajo reservation to get to Bandera Crater and the restaurant where we had dinner, and chatted with the rooster, was on the reservation as well.
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