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Lava Beds National Monument
Located in Siskiyou County, California, Lava Beds National Monument is widely known for its largest concentration of lava tube caves in the United States. Declared as a United States National Monument in 1925, this area is situated on the northeastern side of the Medicine Lake Volcano.
Lying in the junction of Sierra-Klamath, Cascade, and Great Basin, Lava Beds National Monument is spread over an area of 46,580 acres (188.5 sq. km.). This monument is considered as a geologically unique region containing a great variety of volcanic formations that have existed for ages. Some of the major lava flows into the monument include the Callahan Flow, Schonchin Flow, Mammoth Crater Flow, Modoc Crater Flow, and Devils Homestead Flow. Most of the lava that flowed into the monument is of basaltic type. However, there are other types of lava flows as well, which include andesitic and pumice. Basaltic lava formations inside the monument are either the smooth Pahoehoe or the rough Aa type.
The most interesting aspects inside the monument are the different lava formations that include lavacicles, lava tubes, dripstones, spatter cones and cinder cones whose age range is between 2,000,000 years to 1,100 years.
The area surrounding the Lava Beds National Monument is a semi-arid desert characterized by a significantly warm and dry climate. The average temperature of this region ranges between 61°F (16°C) in summers to 36°F (2°C) during winters. However, the temperatures might also reach extreme levels up to 102°F (39°C) during summers to -18°F (-28°C) during winters.
Even though the monument lacks any terrestrial water supply, it supports a diverse variety of flora and fauna. Some of the common plants growing here include lichens, mosses, desert sweet, aromatic desert sage, spreading wood fern and western sword fern. Some of the animal species in the monument include Cooper’s hawk, Fringed Myotis, Long-eared Myotis, Long-legged Myotis, Pallid Bat, Silver-haired Bat and American Badger. Apart from them, the region is also known for its reptilian species, including the western rattle snake, desert night snake, gopher snake, Rocky mountain rubber boa, western skink, Great Basin fence lizard and the northern sagebrush lizard.
- Address: 1 Indian Well Headquarters, Tulelake, CA 96134
- Telephone: (530) 667-8100
- Hours: Summer: 8.00 AM – 6.00 PM, Fall, Winter, Spring: 8.30 AM – 5.00 PM
- Website: www.nps.gov/labe
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