Crater Rings (Idaho)

Crater Rings are adjacent, symmetrical volcanic pit craters in the Western Snake River Plain about 8 miles northwest of Mountain Home, Idaho. They are one of few examples of volcanic craters in the continental United States.[1] The craters are at the summit of a broad shield volcano. The eastern crater is about 3000 ft across and 350 ft deep. The western is 2500 ft across and 300 ft deep. The craters are probably former lava lakes similar to Halemaʻumaʻu of the Kīlauea volcano of Hawaii. The volcano is the youngest of the shield volcanoes near Mountain Home and is estimated to be less than 2 million years old.[2]

Crater Rings
Crater Rings
Highest point
Coordinates43.1907°N 115.8597°W / 43.1907; -115.8597 
Geography
LocationElmore County, Idaho,
United States
Topo mapUSGS Crater Rings
Geology
Age of rockLess than 2 million years
Mountain typevolcanic craters of a Shield Volcano
Designated1980

Crater Rings are a National Natural Landmark designated in 1980. The site is owned by the Bureau of Land Management as part of the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area.

References
  1. "Crater Rings". National Park Service. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  2. "Origin and Evolution of the Western Snake River Plain: Implications From Stratigraphy, Faulting, and the Geochemistry of Basalts Near Mountain Home, Idaho" (PDF). Shervais and others. 2002. p. 351. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  • Surface Mapping of Mars and Related Geologic Studies, King, 1974, p. 2
  • Geonote 41 National Natural Landmarks of Idaho, Gibbons
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