Shanna's Adventures: Arizona

Showing posts with label Arizona. Show all posts

Friday, July 07, 2017

Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

Sunset Crater Volcano

After spending most of the day at the Grand Canyon, we drove south and saw signs for Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument. Having only lived on the east coast of North America, anything having to do with a volcano seems foreign and intriguing. We were passing right by it. I could not resist so we made u-turn and I'm so glad we did. We stayed long enough to walk through the 900 year old Bonito Lava Flow and sit and ponder the rust-rimmed cone before continuing on toward Meteor Crater.

A walk through lava rock with Sunset Crater in the background

Black ash is everywhere

Lava flow rock formations

Monday, July 03, 2017

Meteor Crater

Meteor Crater or Barringer Crater

Meteor Crater is about a mile in diameter and was formed around 50,000 years ago when a meteor weighing several thousand tons struck the earth. This place is a striking and unforgettable sight. It was featured in the 1984 movie Starman and was used by NASA astronauts to train for the Apollo missions to the moon.

There are viewpoints along one edge of the rim. Meteor Crater is on privately owned property and admission is required. An optional 30 minute tour is included with admission. In the visitor center, there are several interpretive displays that discuss the history of the site as well as a video devoted to how the impact crater was created. A gift shop and Subway restaurant is available.

The visitor center houses the largest meteorite found in the surrounding area and is believed to have been part of the meteor that made the impact crater. One would not think it by just looking at it but this meteorite weighs over 1,406 lbs.

Naturally occurring processes are degrading the impact site but after 50,000 years it is still very impressive and will remain so for centuries to come. We first visited this site nearly 10 years ago with a one year old Jonah. He should remember this most recent visit.

2017

2007

Friday, June 30, 2017

The Grand Canyon Overwhelms the Senses

The Grand Canyon in June 2017

On our first visit to the South Rim of the Grand Canyon 10 years ago, we experienced a vivid landscape near sunset. It was also autumn with cooler temperatures and perhaps a bit clearer air.

This was Elisabeth's first trip to the Grand Canyon. Jonah was barely a year old when Kelly and I first visited. I was freshly impacted by the views but it did seem that it was perhaps a little less striking than in our memory. The difference in the time of day, time of year, and the fact that a prescribed forest fire was taking place meant more haze and less than ideal lighting for clearly distinguishing the rich beauty and magnitude of this grandest of canyons. That being said, it is extremely difficult to comprehend the dimensions and vastness of this space under any circumstance.

While that last visit may have been a more ideal time of day and year, every visit is unique and overwhelms the senses. I am all for making multiple trips of varying lengths to see this iconic landmark it all it's wondrous glory. God willing, the next time perhaps we will hike down into its depths to help actualize the true size and shape of it all.