Day 48 April 21

The black lava flow

Bonus points if you can name the type of lava I am standing on.

Standing in a collapsed gas pocket

standing at the edge of the flow

Life has found a way to live on the rock in just 1000 years.

We left Albuquerque behind and set out for Valley Of Fires Park, thinking we would just take a look around and camp at our next stop. We were completely surprised when we arrived. As we came over a hill a few miles away, we could that the floor of the valley was a much darker color than the rest of the land. As we got closer, we realized this was the lava flow. This lava flow is the youngest in the continental US, ceasing activity only about 1000 years ago. We were awed by the formations, it appeared as if the lava could still be in motion. The flow originated from a non-violent fissure eruption, and covers an area about 2-5 miles wide and 44 miles long! It is 165 feet thick in some places! Valley of Fires Park is located on a sandstone hill which became an island in the middle of the lava flow. There was a peak visible miles away that is thought to have been the last vent that was active in this area. We were able to easily see pressure ridges, lava tubes, and collapsed gas bubbles. It was interesting to learn that many animals have adapted to living on this dark, olivine basalt. In a relatively short time, they have developed darker skin and hair that helps them blend in here. We ended up camping here, and it was a perfect choice. The super dark skies in southern New Mexico allowed for a great opportunity to view the Lyrid meteor shower. Although we did not see too many meteors (Jane and Anna totaled about 10) we were treated to a very clear and dark night sky. It was a little disconcerting though...we struggled to find "The Big Dipper," since there are so many more stars visible in the sky here!