List of National Natural Landmarks in Idaho facts for kids
Idaho is home to some truly incredible natural places! These special spots are called National Natural Landmarks. They are chosen because they show off the best examples of America's natural history, like unique rock formations, amazing fossil sites, or rare forests. Think of them as nature's treasures! Idaho has 11 of these amazing landmarks. Let's explore them!
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Idaho's Amazing Natural Landmarks
Big Southern Butte
Imagine a giant dome-shaped mountain made of volcanic rock, rising 2,500 feet (about 760 meters) above the flat land! That's Big Southern Butte, near Atomic City. It's a fantastic example of how much volcanic activity happened in this part of the U.S. a long, long time ago. It shows us the huge scale of ancient volcanoes in the western United States.
Big Springs
Big Springs is a super cool place near Island Park where a huge amount of water bursts out of the ground! It's the only "first-magnitude" spring in the entire country that flows out from volcanic lava rock. This means it's one of the biggest and most powerful natural springs you'll find.
Cassia Silent City of Rocks
Get ready to explore a city made of rocks! The Cassia Silent City of Rocks near Malta is famous for its giant, unique rock formations. These huge granite shapes were created over millions of years as layers of rock peeled away, like an onion. It's a popular spot for climbing and exploring!
Crater Rings
Near Mountain Home, you can find the Crater Rings. These are two perfectly round, bowl-shaped holes in the ground, almost like giant dimples! They are a rare type of volcanic crater called "pit craters." You won't find many examples like these in the rest of the United continental States.
Great Rift of Idaho
The Great Rift of Idaho is a huge crack in the Earth's surface, located within the Craters of the Moon National Monument. Think of it as a giant tear in the ground! This long crack shows how the Earth's crust has pulled apart over time, leading to volcanic eruptions and lava flows.
Hagerman Fauna Sites
If you love fossils, you'll be amazed by the Hagerman Fauna Sites! Located within the Hagerman Fossil Beds National Monument, this area has the richest collection of ancient land animal fossils from the Upper Pliocene age (about 3.5 million years ago). It's like a prehistoric treasure chest, full of clues about animals that lived long ago, including the famous Hagerman Horse.
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
The Hell's Half Acre Lava Field near Blackfoot is a massive area covered in hardened lava. It's a fantastic example of a "pahoehoe" lava flow, which means the lava cooled with a smooth, ropey surface. You can see the exact patterns and shapes the lava made as it flowed across the land.
Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area
Step into a magical forest at the Hobo Cedar Grove Botanical Area near Shoshone. This special place is home to an incredible, untouched forest of giant western red cedar trees. It's a perfect example of how these majestic trees grow in their natural environment, offering a peaceful and beautiful escape.
Menan Buttes
The Menan Buttes are two unique hills near Menan that look like giant cones. What makes them special is that they are made of "glass tuff," a type of volcanic rock that forms when hot lava mixes with water. These "tuff cones" are very rare and are found in only a few places around the world.
Niagara Springs
Niagara Springs near Hagerman is another amazing natural spring. It's one of the largest springs that flows into the Snake River from a huge underground water system called the Snake River Plain aquifer. This spring is special because it's still very natural and hasn't been changed much by people.
Sheep Rock
Sheep Rock near Council is a fascinating rock formation that shows layers of ancient lava flows. These horizontally stacked layers are part of the huge Columbia River Basalt Plateau. By looking at Sheep Rock, you can see how different lava flows built up the land over millions of years, creating a layered history of volcanic activity.
