Long Valley Caldera (Owens Valley)

Overview

The Long Valley Caldera is one of the largest and most intensively studied volcanic features in North America and the geological foundation of the Mammoth Lakes landscape. About 760,000 years ago, a cataclysmic eruption expelled more than 150 cubic miles of magma, blanketing much of the western United States in ash and forming the Bishop Tuff. As the magma chamber emptied, the ground above collapsed into a vast depression 10 miles wide and 20 miles long. The caldera remains active today: driving fumaroles, hot springs, and hydrothermal systems, and is closely monitored by the USGS.

Amenities

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Mapped location of Long Valley Caldera (Owens Valley)
Long Valley Caldera (Owens Valley)
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