Long Valley Caldera Among Largest on Earth!
SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAINS, CALIF. — In the spring mule deer are seen in Long Valley, one of the world’s largest calderas, approx. 19 miles long by 10 miles wide. Formed by volcanic eruption 760,000 years ago, so huge was the explosion of the volcano the magma chamber under the now completely destroyed volcano was significantly emptied to the point of collapse. The collapse itself caused an even larger secondary eruption of pyroclastic ash that burned and buried thousands of square miles, blanketing much of the western area of what is now the United States. This topographic depression completely bounded by faults next to Mammoth Mountain is administered by the Bureau of Land Management (blm.gov). Explore the Long Valley Caldera and unique features that surround it such as Obsidian Dome, Inyo Craters and Hot Creek. Read more…>
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