Madison Boulder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Madison Boulder Natural Area |
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The Madison Boulder as photographed in 1922
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| Location | Madison, New Hampshire, United States |
| Area | 17 acres (6.9 ha) |
| Elevation | 512 feet (156 m) |
| Established | 1946 |
| Administered by | New Hampshire Division of Parks and Recreation |
| Designation | National Natural Landmark |
| Website | Madison Boulder Natural Area |
The Madison Boulder is a super-sized rock found in Madison, New Hampshire. It's one of the biggest "glacial erratics" in North America and even one of the largest in the world! Imagine a giant rock that was moved by a glacier. This amazing boulder is protected in the 17-acre (6.9 ha) Madison Boulder Natural Area, a special park just for it.
What is the Madison Boulder?
This huge rock is made of granite, a very common type of rock. It measures about 83 feet (25 m) long, 23 feet (7.0 m) tall above the ground, and 37 feet (11 m) wide. That's as big as a small building! It weighs more than 5,000 tons, which is like weighing 5,000 small cars. A part of this giant rock is actually buried underground, probably about ten to twelve feet deep.
How Did This Giant Rock Get Here?
The Madison Boulder is a special type of rock called a glacial erratic. This means it was moved from its original home by a huge sheet of ice, called a glacier. Thousands of years ago, during the last Ice Age, massive glaciers covered much of North America. As these glaciers slowly moved, they picked up rocks of all sizes. The Madison Boulder was one of those rocks!
The glacier carried this enormous granite block for many miles. When the climate warmed and the glacier melted, it dropped the boulder right where it is today. It's like a giant leaving a huge pebble behind!
Protecting This Natural Wonder
The Madison Boulder is so special that it was bought by the state of New Hampshire in 1946. This was done to make sure it would be protected for everyone to see and learn from.
Later, in 1970, the Madison Boulder was given an even more important title. It was named a National Natural Landmark by the National Park Service. This means it's recognized as one of the most important natural features in the entire United States. It's a great example of how glaciers shaped our planet.
