Wednesday, September 03, 2014

Labor Day in Flagstaff - Sunset Crater Volcano

We spent the day exploring. Here we are at Sunset Crater Volcano Monuments.




Bonito Park 


Sunset Crater Volcano erupted approximately 1,000 years ago. It is the most recent in the 6 million years of volcanic activity in this area. 


Eva didn't want to take pictures of flowers. She wanted to draw them. C'est une petite botaniste en herbe.


On our way to the lava trails, we first saw those big jagged rocks called aa (ah-ah) on The Bonito Flow. 



Then, approaching the main trail, we could see the smooth and fine lava (pa-hoy-hoy)


Red and yellow oxidized cinders shot out of the vent and fell onto the rim in its final burst of activity. Sunset Crater got its name because of its colorful red and yellow glow.



The Sunset Crater penstemon (the Scarlet gilia or Skyrocket).


It is a beautiful place and Eva's favorite National Monument (so far). 



Barry got Eva a Kid's Passport Companion book. Each time we go to a National Park, she gets a stamp with the name of the park and the date of the visit. She added some drawings and facts from her observations in her book. She is a true Junior Ranger. 

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