Vulcan's Throne facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vulcan's Throne |
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| Highest point | |
| Elevation | 5,102 ft (1,555 m) NGVD 29 |
| Geography | |
 Vulcan’s
Throne Location in Arizona
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| Location | Grand Canyon National Park Mohave County, Arizona. U.S. |
| Topo map | USGS Vulcans Throne |
| Geology | |
| Age of rock | 73,000 years |
| Mountain type | cinder cone |
| Volcanic field | Uinkaret volcanic field |
Vulcan's Throne is a cool cinder cone volcano located on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, United States. It's a very noticeable spot, standing tall near the Colorado River. This volcano is actually the source of the lava that created the famous Lava Falls and Lava Falls Rapids. These rapids are some of the biggest on the Colorado River!
Vulcan's Throne is about 1 mile (1.7 km) west of a place called Toroweap Overlook. It's part of a larger area with many volcanoes, known as the Uinkaret volcanic field.
What is Vulcan's Throne?
Vulcan's Throne is a type of volcano called a cinder cone. Imagine a giant pile of volcanic ash and small rocks, shaped like a cone. That's a cinder cone! It was formed a very long time ago, during a period called the Quaternary Period. This means it's quite old, but still a relatively recent volcano in Earth's history.
The volcano is made up of loose volcanic bits like scoria (bubbly lava rock), cinders, and clinkers. Because of this, climbing it can be tricky. An early explorer named George Corning Fraser visited in 1914. He said climbing it was like "ascending a sand-dune" because every step forward meant slipping halfway back!
How Vulcan's Throne Created Lava Falls
Long ago, lava from Vulcan's Throne flowed into the Colorado River. This massive flow of lava actually blocked the river for a while! When the river eventually broke through, it created the huge and powerful rapids we now call Lava Falls Rapids.
These rapids are so big and loud that on some days, you can hear them from the nearby Toroweap Point overlook. It's a powerful reminder of the volcano's ancient activity.
Lava Falls Rapids
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The Lava Falls Rapids are known as one of the most challenging and exciting rapids for people rafting through the Grand Canyon. They are a direct result of the lava flows from Vulcan's Throne. The river had to carve its way through the hardened lava, creating the dramatic drops and powerful waves that rafters experience today.
