Craters Of The Moon National Preserve, Idaho
Craters of the Moon is a national preserve located in the state of Idaho, near the central plains. Nearest town across the area is Arco, who benefits from the tourism of this area. Craters of the Moon is aptly named because of the volcanic activity that had resulted in the area in the past and had created a flood basalt area that mimics the landscape of the moon.
It has about three major plains, all lying along the Great Rift of Idaho, another spectacular natural monument. The Great Rift is a good example of open rift cracks that appear around the world, Idaho’s being one of the most deepest of the known cracks. The area boasts of a lot of natural formations like tree molds (happens when lava cools down but burns the tree inside, forming a mold-like cavity), lava tubes (a lava cave) and many more.
It was of 1924 that President Coolidge proclaimed the area a protected zone. Inns and cabins were created and the area started to take shape. Soon thereafter, the park was expanded until the National Wilderness Preservation System had finally declared its protection over the mentioned area.
The park was also used by NASA, for training in collection of rock samples. It was later found out by the astronauts that the differing terrains (that of the moon and of the park) were totally different. Still, the name stuck thereafter, and no attempts to change it were made.
There are numerous sights to see, one of which is Kings Bowl Lava Field, which formed after the eruption of a lava tube touching groundwater. It’s quite large and hard not to notice. Others near the area are explosion pits, lava lakes, squeeze-ups, mounds and ash blankets.
Idaho hosts a wonderful natural monument, so why not try and give it a visit?
If you’re interested in visiting the area around Arco and the City of Rocks, check out the Official Vacation Guide for Southern Idaho for lots more information. I’d particularly recommend driving the City of Rocks Backcountry Byway.