Desolation Lava Field facts for kids

The Desolation Lava Field is a fascinating area in British Columbia, Canada. It's a special kind of place called a volcanic field, which means it has many small volcanoes and hardened lava flows. This field is connected to the larger Mount Edziza volcanic complex.

The Desolation Lava Field covers about 150 square kilometers. That's a huge area! It holds the largest and newest lava flows in the entire Mount Edziza region. The longest lava flow from this field stretches for about 12 kilometers. Imagine a river of rock that long!

One of the most amazing features here is Eve Cone. It's a volcano shaped like a perfect cone, right in the middle of the field. Eve Cone is known as one of the most symmetrical and best-preserved cinder cones in all of Canada. It looks almost exactly as it did when it formed!

What is a Volcanic Field?

A volcanic field is different from a single, large volcano. Instead, it's an area where many smaller volcanoes have erupted over time. Think of it like a neighborhood of volcanoes rather than one giant mountain. These fields often have different types of volcanoes, like cinder cones and lava flows.

The Desolation Lava Field is a great example of this. It shows how volcanic activity can happen in many spots across a wide area. Over thousands of years, lava has flowed out, cooled, and built up the landscape we see today.

Exploring the Volcanoes of the Field

The Desolation Lava Field is home to several interesting volcanoes. Most of these are cinder cones. Cinder cones are the simplest type of volcano. They are built from small pieces of lava, called cinders, that are blown into the air during an eruption. These cinders fall back down around the vent, creating a cone shape.

Here are some of the volcanoes you can find within the Desolation Lava Field:

• Eve Cone
• Kana Cone
• Moraine Cone
• Sidas Cone
• Sleet Cone
• Storm Cone
• Triplex Cone
• Twin Cone
• Williams Cone

Each of these cones tells a story about past eruptions. They show how the landscape has been shaped by the powerful forces of the Earth. Studying them helps scientists understand how volcanoes work and how our planet changes over time.

Lava Flows and How They Form

When a volcano erupts, molten rock called magma comes out from underground. Once it reaches the surface, it's called lava. This lava flows across the land, and as it cools, it hardens into rock.

The Desolation Lava Field has many layers of these hardened lava flows. They can be thick or thin, and they often have different textures depending on how quickly they cooled. The longest flow here is 12 kilometers, which means lava traveled a very long way from its source! These flows create unique landscapes that are often rugged and rocky.

Why is Eve Cone So Special?

Eve Cone is a standout feature in the Desolation Lava Field. It's a nearly perfect cone shape, which is quite rare for a volcano. This means it has not been worn down much by wind, rain, or ice over time. Its excellent preservation makes it a valuable site for scientists to study.

Cinder cones like Eve Cone are usually formed during a single, short eruption. The cinders pile up around the vent, creating the classic cone shape. Eve Cone's symmetry suggests that its eruption was very focused and not disturbed by other events. It's like a natural sculpture, showing the raw power of a volcanic eruption.