Sunset Crater
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Sunset Crater | |
|---|---|
 Aerial photo of Sunset Crater |
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| Elevation | 8,042 ft (2,451 m) |
| Location | Coconino County, Arizona, USA |
| Range | San Francisco volcanic field |
| Coordinates | |
| Topo map | USGS Sunset Crater East |
| Type | Cinder cone |
| Age of rock | 943 yr |
| Last eruption | 1100 AD |
| Easiest route | Hike |
Sunset Crater is a cinder cone located north of Flagstaff, Arizona in the United States. The crater lies within the Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument.
Sunset Crater is the youngest in a string of volcanoes (the San Francisco volcanic field) that is related to the nearby San Francisco Peaks. It first erupted in 1064 , and the last major eruption occurred in 1100 , raising the volcano's height to about 300 meters. A final burst of activity in the 13th century painted the upper portion of the otherwise black cone with bright red and orange rocks, giving the volcano its name. The volcano has partially revegetated, with pines and wildflowers. The crater has given its name to the Sunset Crater Beardtongue (Penstemon clutei).
Damage from hikers forced the National Park Service to close a trail leading to the crater, but a short trail at the base remains.
The hiking trail below the summit skirts the substantial Bonita Lava Flow. This hardened lava is black and appears fresh as it has devastated the forest in its path. The lava flow also created an ice cave or tube that is now closed to the public after a partial collapse.
[edit] Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
| Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | |
|---|---|
| IUCN Category III (Natural Monument) | |
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| Location | Arizona, USA |
| Nearest city | Flagstaff, AZ |
| Coordinates | |
| Area | 3,040 (12.30 km²) |
| Established | May 26, 1930 |
| Visitors | 200,000 (est) (in 2004) |
| Governing body | National Park Service |
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is a U.S. National Monument in the north-central part of the U.S. state of Arizona, intended to protect Sunset Crater, a cinder cone that is part of the San Francisco Volcanic Field. It is maintained by the National Park Service in close conjunction with nearby Wupatki National Monument. In the late 1920s, a Hollywood film company attempted to detonate large quantities of explosives inside Sunset Crater in order to simulate a volcanic eruption. Public outcry over this plan led in part to the proclamation of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument by President Herbert Hoover in 1930.
A one mile (1.6 km) self-guiding loop trail is located at the base of Sunset Crater but hiking to the summit is not permitted. A trail providing access to the summit and crater was closed in 1974 because of excessive erosion caused by hikers. A visitor center is located near the park entrance, 12 miles (19 km) north of Flagstaff, Arizona along U.S. Highway 89.
[edit] External links
- National Park Service webpage of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
- USGS fact sheet about the San Francisco volcanic field
- Smithsonian Institution Global Volcanism Program: Sunset Crater
