OUR NEXT ADVENTURE
  • Home
  • Blog
  • RV Parks we have visited
  • Map of our travels
    • About >
      • Contact
  • Statistics
the Honeymoon continues...

Our Blog of our activities as we travel...

The Malpais Valley of Fires Lava Flow Nature trail.

1/15/2021

0 Comments

 
Today, we took a short hike in the park. First, we walked up to the high point in the campground.  This gave a great view of the lava flow.
Next, we walked the nature trail.
​This area is part of the Tularosa Valley and the lava flow is many square miles of basalt lava.  The flow up to 165 feet thick and over 45 miles long and up to 3 miles wide from several volcanos.  All of the volcanos are dormant and there are no indications that any will ever erupt again. The oldest source of lava was about 5,000 years ago and the most recent about 1,000 years ago. Little Black Peak was the last source.  It is about 9 miles northwest of the park.
Picture
As the lava flowed down and cooled, it cracked and buckled into huge pieces of rock.  The area becomes incredibly hot in the summer. The area was impassable by foot or horse until a highway was made to cross the flow.
The lava is perfect to collect blowing dust and dirt.  This has allowed soil to build on the surface of the flow to the point that gnarled looking juniper and mesquite trees, yucca, cactus, and some prairie grasses grow.  Several animals have found a home including bats and bees that use the old lava tubes, rabbits, roadrunners, cactus wrens, sparrows, and even some burrowing and great horned owls along with hawks and the golden eagle.  There are several types of lizard and snakes but those were not out to be seen. This time of year only some small wrens and a few cardinals are obvious.
It was a nice trail if a bit chilly because of the wind blowing out of the north.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    We are a couple who have started on a new adventure...

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • Blog
  • RV Parks we have visited
  • Map of our travels
    • About >
      • Contact
  • Statistics