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The Carrizozo malpais, close

Fig. 1The Carrizozo malpais, close

Photo: Marjaliisa · CC BY-SA 3.0

Landform

A young black lava flow crumpled like a frozen sea. The Carrizozo malpais — 44 miles of basalt, one of the longest in the continent.

Field note

The flow is only about 5,000 years old. Up close the rock is a black rope and a broken plate. Sierra Blanca stands beyond it. The recreation area sits on a little island of older ground.

A private leaf

Prints from Valley of Fires


Instant paper, this copy only. Write on the white — a line the walk still owes you.

The prints

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Opening the leaf…

Onward

A day's country


The nearest plates, by the miles.

Volcanic chapter

More volcanic destinations


Other US volcanic plates. See all volcanic destinations in the USA

Fold-out

On the chart


Vintage map of the United States