Location:
North New Mexico, USA Valles Caldera is one of the smaller supervolcanos, only 12 miles in diameter, compared to the diameter of Yellowstone which is about 45 miles. Valles is the youngest of two calderas in the area, the other is called Toledo. Valles last eruptions were 1.2 million and 1.6 million years ago. It erupted 241km3 of rock and projected ash as far away as Iowa. Eruption temperatures were around 1,700 degrees Fahrenheit. The eruption was roughly equivalent to 2000 Mt St Helens eruptions. Up till about 60,000 years ago there were still lava flows, and even today there are still signs of heat below the dormant supervolcano: hot springs and Fumeroles are abundant in the area. The likely cause for the volcanoes existence is probably due to the North American Plate pulling apart in that area. Seismic waves travelling through the caldera show an area of low velocity indicating a magma chamber beneath the caldera.
|
Valles National Caldera Preserve
The caldera itself is now a National Park. The preserve is used all year round for tourist activities such as cross-country skiing, hiking and mountain biking. It was designated a National preserve in the year 2000. Elk occupy the park, with the biggest herd around 8000 strong. Streams and rivers populated with trout run for 40 miles around the preserve, these are used in the fishing season. The highest peak is 11,200 ft and is called Redondo peak. This peak is a lava dome located entirely within the Caldera. |