Misplaced Pages

#85914

23-502: Lava Cast Forest is a visitor destination within the Newberry National Volcanic Monument near Bend , in the U.S. state of Oregon . It is a geologic feature containing a 6,000 year old lava flow that created lava molds of ancient trees. It's located about 25 total miles south of Bend and is accessible via a 9-mile (14 km) gravel road from U.S. Highway 97 . The site includes paid parking and

46-399: A hollow interior. The molds can be vertical or horizontal, with some horizontal casts being up to 50 to 60 feet long. In some of the molds, the imprint of tree bark can be seen. Even ancient charcoal are still in some of the molds, and rings of annual tree growth can be seen in some. Originally, lumber company employees thought the molds were lava gas blowouts, until Walter J. Perry discovered

69-459: A low- viscosity lava flow develops a continuous and hard crust, which thickens and forms a roof above the still-flowing lava stream. Tubes form in one of two ways: either by the crusting over of lava channels , or from pāhoehoe flows where the lava is moving under the surface. Lava usually leaves the point of eruption in channels. These channels tend to stay very hot as their surroundings cool. This means they slowly develop walls around them as

92-432: A main lava tube. The largest of these lava tubes is 2 meters (6.6 ft) in diameter and has columnar jointing due to the large cooling surface. Other tubes have concentric and radial jointing features. The tubes are infilled due to the low slope angle of emplacement. Lunar lava tubes have been discovered and have been studied as possible human habitats, providing natural shielding from radiation. Several holes on

115-462: A paved interpretive loop trail, with some sections too narrow or steep for wheelchairs. The Lava Cast Forest area includes cinder cones and various lava flows, with the youngest flow at 6,000 years old. It created molds around preexisting tree trunks when the lava flowed around them. The molds were created when hot lava came into contact with trees, chilling the lava and created a protective covering, or mold. The trees then burnt completely out leaving

138-404: A variety of stalactite forms generally known as lavacicles , which can be of the splash, "shark tooth", or tubular varieties. Lavacicles are the most common of lava tube speleothems. Drip stalagmites may form under tubular lava stalactites, and the latter may grade into a form known as a tubular lava helictite . A runner is a bead of lava that is extruded from a small opening and then runs down

161-407: A variety of winter activates such as snowmobiling, snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and rooms for rent at the resorts.' Lava tube A lava tube , or pyroduct , is a natural conduit formed by flowing lava from a volcanic vent that moves beneath the hardened surface of a lava flow. If lava in the tube empties, it will leave a cave . A lava tube is a type of lava cave formed when

184-459: A wall. Lava tubes may also contain mineral deposits that most commonly take the form of crusts or small crystals , and less commonly, as stalactites and stalagmites. Some stalagmites may contain a central conduit and are interpreted as hornitos extruded from the tube floor. Lava tubes can be up to 14–15 metres (46–49 ft) wide, though are often narrower, and run anywhere from 1–15 metres (3 ft 3 in – 49 ft 3 in) below

207-504: Is a cinder cone volcano that rises 500 feet (150 m) above the Lava Lands Visitor Center. It can be accessed by either vehicle or hiking up a paved road. Interpretive signs, views of the surrounding lava flow and mountains, and an active fire lookout are found on top. Lava River Cave is roughly 13 miles (21 km) south of Bend. Lava River Cave is open to visitors from May through September. Lava River Cave

230-405: Is easily accessible from good roads within the caldera, or a trail that traverses the flow. Lava Cast Forest is roughly 25 miles (40 km) south of Bend, accessible via a 9-mile (14 km) gravel road from U.S. Highway 97. Lava Cast Forest contains a 6,000-year-old lava flow that created molds of ancient trees. Lava Butte is roughly 11 miles (18 km) south of Bend, Oregon. Lava Butte

253-458: Is the largest uncollapsed lava tube in Oregon, and may be explored by lantern. Temperatures in the cave average 42 °F (6 °C). White-nose syndrome has not yet affected resident bats in the cave. Newberry Caldera is roughly 37 miles (60 km) from Bend and 19 miles (31 km) from La Pine . Newberry Caldera is the largest developed area within the national monument. The caldera

SECTION 10

#1732786846086

276-400: Is usually another lava tube leading back to the eruption point. Called pāhoehoe flows, these areas of surface-moving lava cool, forming either a smooth or rough, ropy surface. The lava continues to flow this way until it begins to block its source. At this point, the subsurface lava is still hot enough to break out at a point, and from this point the lava begins as a new "source". Lava flows from

299-634: The United States Forest Service designated 5,120 acres as part of the Lava Cast Forest Geological Area and were promoted as a tourist attraction . In 1963, scientists from NASA became interested in the lava fields because they had very little erosion and they suspected it might be what they would find on the surface of the Moon . From 1964 to 1966, at least 46 astronauts trained for lunar missions in

322-463: The area. James B. Irwin delivered a rock from one of Oregon's lava flows to the lunar surface to commemorate NASA's experiences in central Oregon . Newberry National Volcanic Monument From 1964 to 1966, the volcano was used for training Apollo astronauts. Newberry National Volcanic Monument consists of four primary visitor destinations: Lava Butte , Lava River Cave , Lava Cast Forest , and Newberry Caldera . The highest point within

345-518: The imprints of lava bark. Lava "drippings" found in freshly formed molds were created when lava dripped into the interior cavity. The area surrounding Lava Cast Forest was used heavily for lumber in the early 1900s. After Perry's discovery, the area received attention from all over the west part of the United States in 1928. At one point, vandals used dynamite to destroy some of the best casts as well as removing some for personal keeping. In 1942,

368-628: The lunar surface, including one in the Marius Hills region, have been observed with angled satellite imagery to lead into voids wider than the holes themselves. These are considered as possible collapses into lunar lava tubes. Martian lava tubes are associated with innumerable lava flows and lava channels on the flanks of Olympus Mons . Partially collapsed lava tubes are visible as chains of pit craters, and broad lava fans formed by lava emerging from intact, subsurface tubes are also common. Evidence of Martian lava tubes has also been observed on

391-617: The monument is the summit of Paulina Peak at 7,985 ft (2,434 m), with views of the Oregon Cascades and the high desert . Paulina Peak may be accessed by road during the summer months, and as the road is both steep and rough, with hairpin turns towards the summit, trailers or long vehicles are discouraged. The summit area of Newberry Volcano holds two alpine lakes full of trout , East Lake and Paulina Lake . The Big Obsidian Flow, created 1,300 years ago, covers 700 acres (280 ha). The black, shiny obsidian field

414-404: The previous source to this breakout point as the surrounding lava of the pāhoehoe flow cools. This forms an underground channel that becomes a lava tube. A broad lava-flow field often consists of a main lava tube and a series of smaller tubes that supply lava to the front of one or more separate flows. When the supply of lava stops at the end of an eruption or lava is diverted elsewhere, lava in

437-613: The surface. Lava tubes can also be extremely long; one tube from the Mauna Loa 1859 flow enters the ocean about 50 kilometers (31 mi) from its eruption point, and the Cueva del Viento–Sobrado system on Teide , Tenerife island, is over 18 kilometers (11 mi) long, due to extensive braided maze areas at the upper zones of the system. A lava tube system in Kiama , Australia , consists of over 20 tubes, many of which are breakouts of

460-414: The surrounding lava cools and/or as the channel melts its way deeper. These channels can get deep enough to crust over, forming an insulating tube that keeps the lava molten and serves as a conduit for the flowing lava. These types of lava tubes tend to be closer to the lava eruption point. Farther away from the eruption point, lava can flow in an unchanneled, fan-like manner as it leaves its source, which

483-458: The tube system drains downslope and leaves partially empty caves . Such drained tubes commonly exhibit step marks on their walls that mark the various depths at which the lava flowed, known as flow ledges or flow lines depending on how prominently they protrude from the walls. Lava tubes generally have pāhoehoe floors, although this may often be covered in breakdown from the ceiling. A variety of speleothems may be found in lava tubes including

SECTION 20

#1732786846086

506-603: The year. There are twelve trails within Newberry Caldera ranging from 0.25 miles to 21 miles. These trails offer a variety of uses from hiking only to multiuse with hiking, biking, and horse allowed. Along the trails you can find access to fishing, viewpoints, interpretive signs, picnic areas, and even hot springs. There are seven boat launches for water recreationists, (the lakes do restrict boats to 10 miles per hour). The Caldera also offers nine campgrounds accommodating both tent and RV camper. Newberry Caldera also offers

529-422: Was formed when a magma chamber collapsed. Over time the caldera filled up with water that created two lakes, Paulina Lake and East Lake. Newberry Caldera has many natural tourism opportunities. Visitors have access to campgrounds, trails, water recreation, lodging, viewpoints, and interpretive guides with Forest Service staff. Newberry Caldera has medium use most of the year with some high usage during peak times of

#85914