- Sunset Crater
Infobox Mountain
Name=Sunset Crater
Photo= SUCR2262.jpg
Caption= Sunset Crater with Ponderosa pines on the slope
Elevation= convert|8042|ft|m|0
Range=San Francisco volcanic field
Location=Coconino County, Arizona , USA
Coordinates = coord|35|21|51|N|111|30|11|W|type:mountain_region:US
Topographic
USGS Sunset Crater East
Type=Cinder cone |Age=943 yr|Last eruption=1100 AD
Easiest route= HikeSunset Crater is a
cinder cone located north ofFlagstaff, Arizona , in theUnited States . The crater lies within theSunset Crater Volcano National Monument .Sunset Crater is the youngest in a string of volcanoes (the
San Francisco volcanic field ) that is related to the nearbySan Francisco Peaks .cite web | last = Priest | first = Susan S. | coauthors = Wendell A. Duffield, Karen Malis-Clark, James W. Hendley II, and Peter H. Stauffer | title = The San Francisco Volcanic Field, Arizona - U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 017-01 | publisher =United States Geological Survey | date = 2001-12-21 | url = http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/fact-sheet/fs017-01/ | accessdate = 2008-08-12] It first erupted in 1064, and the last major eruption occurred in 1100, raising the volcano's height to about convert|300|m|ft|sigfigs=2. A final burst of activity in the13th century painted the upper portion of the otherwise black cone with bright red and orange rocks, giving the volcano its name. The volcano has partially revegetated, withpine s andwildflower s. The crater has given its name to theSunset Crater Beardtongue ("Penstemon clutei").Damage from hikers forced the National Park Service to close a trail leading to the crater, but a short trail at the base remains. [cite web | title = Lava Flow Trail | work = Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | publisher =
National Park Service | date = 2006-09-14 | url = http://www.nps.gov/sucr/planyourvisit/lava-flow-trail.htm | accessdate = 2008-08-12]The hiking trail below the summit skirts the substantial Bonita Lava Flow. This hardened lava is black and appears fresh as it has devastated the forest in its path. The lava flow also created an ice cave or tube that is now closed to the public after a partial collapse.
Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
Infobox_protected_area | name = Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument
iucn_category = III
caption =
locator_x = 60
locator_y = 103
location =Arizona , USA
nearest_city = Flagstaff, AZ
lat_degrees = 35
lat_minutes = 22
lat_seconds = 56
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 111
long_minutes = 30
long_seconds = 38
long_direction = W
area = convert|3040|acre|km2|1
established =May 26 ,1930
visitation_num = 200,000 (est)
visitation_year =2004
governing_body =National Park Service Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument is aU.S. National Monument in the north-central part of theU.S. state ofArizona , intended to protectSunset Crater , acinder cone that is part of theSan Francisco Volcanic Field .cite web | title = Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument | work = | publisher =National Park Service | date = 2007-09-14 | url = http://www.nps.gov/sucr/ | accessdate = 2008-08-12] It is maintained by the National Park Service in close conjunction with nearbyWupatki National Monument . In the late1920s , aHollywood film company attempted to detonate large quantities of explosives inside Sunset Crater in order to simulate a volcanic eruption. Public outcry over this plan led in part to the proclamation of Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument by PresidentHerbert Hoover in1930 .A one mile (1.6 km) self-guiding loop trail is located at the base of Sunset Crater but hiking to the summit is not permitted. A trail providing access to the summit and crater was closed in 1974 because of excessive erosion caused by hikers. A visitor center is located near the park entrance, convert|12|mi|km|0 north of
Flagstaff, Arizona alongU.S. Highway 89 .References
External links
*VNUM|1=1209-02-
* [http://www.nps.gov/sucr/naturescience/index.htm Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Nature & Science]
* [http://www.nps.gov/sucr/naturescience/volcanoes.htm Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument - Volcanoes / Lava Flows]
* [http://geomaps.wr.usgs.gov/parks/sunset/sunvolc.html Geology of Sunset Crater National Monument]
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