Big Southern Butte facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Big Southern Butte |
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Big Southern Butte
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 7,550 ft (2,300 m) |
| Prominence | 2,380 ft (730 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Butte County, Idaho, United States |
| Topo map | USGS Big Southern Butte |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 300,000 years |
| Mountain type | Lava dome |
| Designated: | 1976 |
Big Southern Butte is a very large hill in Idaho, United States. It is actually one of the biggest volcanic hills, called a lava dome, found anywhere on Earth! This amazing natural landmark is about 300,000 years old. It stands tall in Butte County, Idaho, rising high above the flat land around it.
What is Big Southern Butte?
Big Southern Butte is a special kind of hill. It was formed from a type of lava called rhyolite. This lava is very thick, like sticky syrup. When it erupts, it piles up around the volcano's vent, creating a dome shape. Big Southern Butte is the largest and youngest of three such domes in the area.
A Giant Among Hills
This huge hill rises about 2,500 feet (762 meters) from the ground. That's taller than many skyscrapers! It sits on a wide, flat area known as the Eastern Snake River Plain. This plain is covered in old lava flows. Big Southern Butte is located east of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve.
How Big is It?
Big Southern Butte is made of two lava domes that grew together. Think of it like two big blobs of play-doh that squished into one giant shape. The base of the Butte is about 6.5 kilometers (4 miles) wide. Its total size, or volume, is around 8 cubic kilometers (1.9 cubic miles). That's a lot of rock!
