Twin Buttes (California) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Twin Buttes |
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Twin Buttes cinder cones
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,340 ft (1,630 m) |
| Geography | |
| Location | Shasta County, California, U.S. |
| Parent range | Cascade Range |
| Topo map | USGS Burney Mountain East |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | Pleistocene |
| Mountain type | Cinder cone |
| Volcanic arc | Cascade Volcanic Arc |
The Twin Buttes are two special hills in Shasta County, California. They are actually small volcanoes called cinder cones. You can find them in the beautiful Cascade Mountain Range.
These buttes are a cool example of how Earth's surface changes over time. They show us the power of volcanoes, even if they are now quiet.
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Exploring Twin Buttes
The Twin Buttes are a pair of volcanic hills. They stand out in the landscape of northern California. These buttes are not huge, towering mountains. Instead, they are cone-shaped hills.
They were formed by volcanic eruptions a very long time ago. Today, they are covered in trees and plants. They are a reminder of California's fiery past.
What Are Cinder Cones?
A cinder cone is a simple type of volcano. It is usually cone-shaped. It has a bowl-shaped crater at the top. Cinder cones are built from bits of lava. These bits are called cinders.
When a cinder cone erupts, it throws out small, bubbly pieces of lava. These pieces cool quickly in the air. They fall around the vent, building up the cone. Think of it like a pile of ash and small rocks.
Cinder cones are often found on the sides of larger volcanoes. They can also appear in groups. The Twin Buttes are a good example of this.
Where Are the Twin Buttes Located?
The Twin Buttes are located in Shasta County, California. This county is in the northern part of California. It is known for its beautiful natural areas. These include mountains, forests, and lakes.
The buttes are part of a larger volcanic area. This area has many different types of volcanoes. It is a great place to learn about geology.
Part of the Cascade Range
The Twin Buttes are part of the Cascade Range. This is a long chain of mountains. It stretches from northern California all the way into Canada. The Cascade Range is famous for its many volcanoes.
Some of these volcanoes are very large. Examples include Mount Shasta and Mount Hood. The Twin Buttes are much smaller. But they are still an important part of this volcanic chain. They show how diverse the volcanoes in the Cascades can be.
How Old Are These Volcanoes?
The Twin Buttes were formed during a time called the Pleistocene epoch. This was a very long time ago. The Pleistocene epoch lasted from about 2.6 million years ago to 11,700 years ago.
So, these volcanoes are thousands of years old. They are not active today. This means they are not expected to erupt again. They have been quiet for a very long time.
Studying old volcanoes like the Twin Buttes helps scientists. It helps them understand Earth's history. It also helps them learn about how volcanoes form and change.
