Volcanic Landscapes

[Site Under Development]

Photo of 2 people walking on cinder cone trail overlooking painted dunes, fantastic lava flow, butte lake, and several low forested peaks.
Hikers on the Cinder Cone Trail in Lassen Volcanic are treated to views of Painted Dunes, Fantastic Lava Flow, and Butte Lake. Lassen Volcanic National Park, California.

NPS photo.

Introduction

[Text]


Landscape-scale Volcanic Features

Showing results 1-3 of 3
Loading results...

  • Kīpukas

    • Sites: Geologic Resources Division, Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, El Malpais National Monument, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Lava Beds National Monument
    aerial photo of a kipuka with trees surrounded by fresh lava flows

    Kipuka are pockets of older land surfaces surrounded by younger lava flows. Kipukas are often stand out as more vegetated areas and may be older lavas or other bedrocks and surface deposits.

  • Inflation Structures, Lava-Rise Plateaus & Inflation Pits

    • Sites: Geologic Resources Division, Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, El Malpais National Monument, Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park, Lava Beds National Monument
    photo of volcanic landscape covered with broken lava rock

    At least five units of the National Park System contain inflation structures such as lava-rise plateaus and inflation pits. Inflation is the process that occurs when lava continues to be supplied within a solidified crust of a basaltic lava flow, causing the flow surface to be lifted upward. Inflation can cause lava flows to substantially thicken and create other features such as tumuli, inflation pits, and inflation clefts to form.

  • Monogenetic Volcanic Fields

    • Sites: Geologic Resources Division, Bering Land Bridge National Preserve, Capulin Volcano National Monument, Craters Of The Moon National Monument & Preserve, Death Valley National Park,
    oblique aerial photo of a lava flow that extended into a body of water

    Monogenetic volcanic fields are areas covered by volcanic rocks where each of the volcanic vents typically only erupt once. Monogenetic volcanic fields typically contain cinder cones, fissure volcanoes, and/or maars and tuff rings. They also usually encompass large areas covered by basaltic lava flows.

Back to top

Featured Parks

Related Links


Last updated: April 17, 2023

Experience More

Subjects

Parks

Organizations

Tools