Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Volcanic National Park | |
---|---|
Location | Shasta, Lassen, Plumas, and Tehama counties, California, United States |
Nearest city | Redding and Susanville |
Coordinates | 40°29′53″N 121°25′39″W / 40.49806°N 121.42750°W |
Area | 106,452 acres (430.80 km2)[1] |
Established | August 9, 1916 |
Visitors | 499,435 (in 2018)[2] |
Governing body | National Park Service |
Website | nps |
Lassen Volcanic National Park is an American
The source of heat for the volcanism in the Lassen area is
Lassen Volcanic National Park started as two separate
History
The Atsugewi have inhabited the area since long before white settlers first saw Lassen. They knew that the peak was full of fire and water and thought it would one day blow itself apart.[8]
European immigrants in the mid-19th century used Lassen Peak as a landmark on their trek to the fertile Sacramento Valley. One of the guides to these immigrants was a Danish blacksmith named Peter Lassen, who settled in Northern California in the 1830s. Lassen Peak was named after him.[8] Nobles Emigrant Trail was later cut through the park area and passed Cinder Cone and the Fantastic Lava Beds.
Inconsistent newspaper accounts reported by witnesses from 1850 to 1851 described seeing "fire thrown to a terrible height" and "burning lava running down the sides" in the area of Cinder Cone.[citation needed] As late as 1859, a witness reported seeing fire in the sky from a distance, attributing it to an eruption. Early geologists and volcanologists who studied the Cinder Cone concluded the last eruption occurred between 1675 and 1700. After the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) began reassessing the potential risk of other active volcanic areas in the Cascade Range. Further study of Cinder Cone estimated the last eruption occurred between 1630 and 1670. Recent tree-ring analysis has placed the date at 1666.
The Lassen area was first protected by being designated as the Lassen Peak Forest Preserve. Lassen Peak and Cinder Cone were later declared as
Starting in May 1914 and lasting until 1921, a series of minor to major eruptions occurred on Lassen. These events created a new crater, and released lava and a great deal of ash. Fortunately, because of warnings, no one was killed, but several houses along area creeks were destroyed. Because of the eruptive activity, which continued through 1917, and the area's stark volcanic beauty, Lassen Peak, Cinder Cone and the area surrounding were declared a National Park on August 9, 1916.[8]
The 29 mi (47 km) Main Park Road was constructed between 1925 and 1931, just 10 years after Lassen Peak erupted. Near Lassen Peak the road reaches 8,512 ft (2,594 m), making it the highest road in the Cascade Mountains. It is not unusual for 40 ft (12 m) of snow to accumulate on the road near
In October 1972, a portion of the park was designated as Lassen Volcanic Wilderness by the
In 1974, the
After the Mount St. Helens eruption, the USGS intensified its monitoring of active and potentially active volcanoes in the Cascade Range. Monitoring of the Lassen area includes periodic measurements of ground deformation and volcanic-gas emissions and continuous transmission of data from a local network of nine seismometers to USGS offices in Menlo Park, California.[11] Should indications of a significant increase in volcanic activity be detected, the USGS will immediately deploy scientists and specially designed portable monitoring instruments to evaluate the threat. In addition, the National Park Service (NPS) has developed an emergency response plan that would be activated to protect the public in the event of an impending eruption.
A downhill skiing site operating in the area was closed in 1992.[12] The last remaining part was the Lassen Chalet, located near the southwest entrance, which was finally demolished in 2005.[12] The new Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center opened to the public at the same location in 2008.[13] It was so named after the Mountain Maidu name for Lassen Peak.[13]
In 2021, the Dixie Fire burned large portions of the National Park, becoming the largest wildfire in park history.[14] On August 5, 2021, the fire entered Lassen Volcanic National Park near Juniper Lake and the entire park was closed for safety. The town of Mineral, including park headquarters, was forced to evacuate. Structure loss occurred at the Drakesbad Guest Ranch and at cabins near Juniper Lake. The Dixie Fire's advance northward was slowed by the 2012 Reading Fire footprint, but the Dixie Fire ultimately burned 73,240 acres within the park—approximately 69% of the park's total area. 12,845 acres, or 18% of that area, burned at a severity that left the landscape unchanged. 34,450 acres, or 49% of the burned area in the park, burned at a low-to-moderate severity. The remaining 23,493 acres, or 33% of the area burned by the Dixie Fire in Lassen Volcanic National Park, burned at a high severity.[15][16]
Visitors to Lassen National Park by year[17] | |
---|---|
Year | Recreational visitors |
2016 | 536,068 |
2015 | 468,092 |
2014 | 432,977 |
2013 | 427,409 |
2012 | 407,653 |
2011 | 351,269 |
2010 | 384,570 |
2009 | 365,639 |
2008 | 377,361 |
2007 | 395,057 |
The NPS tracks Lassen visitors by counting vehicles entering the park via in-road inductive loops at all vehicle entrances. Buses and other non-reportable vehicles are subtracted from the vehicle count, which is then multiplied by three, an estimate of the number of visitors per vehicle.[18]
Geography and geology
The park is located near the northern end of the Sacramento Valley, near the cities of Redding and Susanville. It is located in portions of Shasta, Lassen, Plumas, and Tehama counties.
The western part of the park features great lava pinnacles (huge mountains created by lava flows), jagged craters, and steaming sulfur vents. It is cut by glaciated canyons and is dotted and threaded by lakes and rushing clear streams.
The eastern part of the park is a vast
Lassen Peak is made of
Sulphur Works is a geothermal area in between Lassen Peak and Brokeoff Mountain that is thought to mark an area near the center of Tehama's now-gone cone. Other geothermal areas in the caldera are Little Hot Springs Valley, Diamond Point (an old lava conduit), and Bumpass Hell (see Geothermal areas in Lassen Volcanic National Park
The magma that fuels the volcanoes in the park is derived from subduction off the coast of Northern California. Cinder Cone and the Fantastic Lava Beds, located about 10 mi (16 km) northeast of Lassen Peak, is a cinder cone volcano and associated lava flow field that last erupted about 1650. It created a series of basaltic andesite to andesite lava flows known as the Fantastic Lava Beds.
There are four shield volcanoes in the park; Mount Harkness (southwest corner of the park), Red Mountain (at south-central boundary), Prospect Peak (in northeast corner), and Raker Peak (north of Lassen Peak). All of these volcanoes are 7,000–8,400 feet (2,133–2,560 m) above sea level and each is topped by a cinder cone volcano.
During ice ages, glaciers have modified and helped to erode the older volcanoes in the park. The center of snow accumulation and therefore ice radiation was Lassen Peak, Red Mountain, and Raker Peak. These volcanoes thus show more glacial scarring than other volcanoes in the park.
Despite not having any glaciers currently, Lassen Peak does have 14 permanent snowfields.[21]
Access
The park is accessible via State Routes 89 and 44. SR 89 passes north–south through the park, beginning at SR 36 to the south and ending at SR 44 to the north. SR 89 passes immediately adjacent to the base of Lassen Peak. There are five vehicle entrances to the park: the north and south entrances on SR 89; and unpaved roads entering at Drakesbad and Juniper Lake in the south, and at Butte Lake in the northeast. The park can also be accessed by trails leading in from the Caribou Wilderness to the east, as well as the Pacific Crest Trail, and two smaller trails leading in from Willow Lake and Little Willow Lake to the south.
The segment of SR 89 through the park is typically closed during the winter due to very heavy snowfall and snowpack.[22][23]
Climate
According to the Köppen climate classification system, Lassen Volcanic National Park has a Mediterranean-influenced warm-summer Humid continental climate (Dsb). According to the United States Department of Agriculture, the Plant Hardiness zone at Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center at 6,736 ft (2,053 m) elevation is 6b with an average annual extreme minimum temperature of −0.2 °F (−17.9 °C).[24]
Since the entire park is located at medium to high
Climate data for Manzanita Lake, California, elevation: 5,863 ft (1,787 m) (1991–2020 normals, extremes 1949–present) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Record high °F (°C) | 67 (19) |
68 (20) |
71 (22) |
78 (26) |
88 (31) |
94 (34) |
97 (36) |
96 (36) |
96 (36) |
88 (31) |
78 (26) |
68 (20) |
97 (36) |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 41.1 (5.1) |
41.8 (5.4) |
46.0 (7.8) |
50.2 (10.1) |
60.7 (15.9) |
69.5 (20.8) |
78.8 (26.0) |
78.3 (25.7) |
72.4 (22.4) |
58.7 (14.8) |
47.1 (8.4) |
39.5 (4.2) |
57.0 (13.9) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 31.5 (−0.3) |
31.8 (−0.1) |
35.1 (1.7) |
38.8 (3.8) |
47.9 (8.8) |
55.3 (12.9) |
62.6 (17.0) |
61.6 (16.4) |
56.5 (13.6) |
46.0 (7.8) |
36.6 (2.6) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
44.5 (6.9) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.8 (−5.7) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
24.3 (−4.3) |
27.5 (−2.5) |
35.1 (1.7) |
41.0 (5.0) |
46.4 (8.0) |
44.9 (7.2) |
40.6 (4.8) |
33.4 (0.8) |
26.2 (−3.2) |
21.7 (−5.7) |
32.0 (0.0) |
Record low °F (°C) | −13 (−25) |
−11 (−24) |
−7 (−22) |
−2 (−19) |
11 (−12) |
19 (−7) |
26 (−3) |
28 (−2) |
19 (−7) |
10 (−12) |
2 (−17) |
−13 (−25) |
−13 (−25) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 6.50 (165) |
5.51 (140) |
6.43 (163) |
4.30 (109) |
2.90 (74) |
1.32 (34) |
0.34 (8.6) |
0.29 (7.4) |
0.65 (17) |
2.70 (69) |
4.68 (119) |
6.49 (165) |
42.11 (1,070) |
Average snowfall inches (cm) | 33.1 (84) |
34.9 (89) |
33.9 (86) |
20.8 (53) |
6.3 (16) |
0.8 (2.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.0 (0.0) |
0.1 (0.25) |
3.9 (9.9) |
11.8 (30) |
31.7 (81) |
177.3 (450) |
Average precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in) | 12.9 | 11.5 | 12.1 | 10.2 | 7.8 | 4.4 | 1.3 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 5.9 | 11.0 | 12.7 | 94.3 |
Average snowy days (≥ 0.1 in) | 9.4 | 9.2 | 8.6 | 6.1 | 1.9 | 0.4 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.1 | 1.1 | 5.4 | 8.9 | 51.1 |
Source: NOAA (precipitation days, snowfall, snow days 1981–2010)[26][27][28] |
Climate data for Kohm Yah-mah-nee Visitor Center, elevation: 6,867 ft (2,093 m) | |||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
Mean daily maximum °F (°C) | 38.4 (3.6) |
39.9 (4.4) |
43.6 (6.4) |
50.8 (10.4) |
58.5 (14.7) |
67.5 (19.7) |
74.8 (23.8) |
74.4 (23.6) |
68.2 (20.1) |
57.0 (13.9) |
44.4 (6.9) |
37.3 (2.9) |
54.6 (12.6) |
Daily mean °F (°C) | 30.0 (−1.1) |
30.6 (−0.8) |
33.6 (0.9) |
38.9 (3.8) |
46.3 (7.9) |
53.9 (12.2) |
61.5 (16.4) |
60.4 (15.8) |
55.5 (13.1) |
45.5 (7.5) |
35.2 (1.8) |
29.6 (−1.3) |
43.5 (6.4) |
Mean daily minimum °F (°C) | 21.7 (−5.7) |
21.4 (−5.9) |
23.5 (−4.7) |
27.0 (−2.8) |
34.1 (1.2) |
40.2 (4.6) |
48.1 (8.9) |
46.3 (7.9) |
42.7 (5.9) |
34.0 (1.1) |
26.0 (−3.3) |
21.9 (−5.6) |
32.3 (0.2) |
Average precipitation inches (mm) | 16.19 (411) |
12.94 (329) |
13.60 (345) |
7.99 (203) |
5.37 (136) |
2.93 (74) |
0.71 (18) |
0.98 (25) |
2.24 (57) |
6.49 (165) |
14.52 (369) |
17.83 (453) |
101.79 (2,585) |
Average relative humidity (%)
|
69.4 | 68.3 | 64.2 | 61.3 | 53.2 | 45.8 | 37.9 | 33.6 | 34.6 | 49.7 | 66.1 | 70.0 | 54.4 |
Source: PRISM Climate Group[29] |
Plants
According to the A. W. Kuchler U.S. Potential natural vegetation Types, Lassen Volcanic National Park has a red fir, Abies magnifica (7) potential vegetation type with a California Conifer Forest (2) potential vegetation form.[30]
Lying at the northern end of the
At elevations below 6,500 feet the dominant vegetation community is the mixed conifer forest.
Above the mixed-conifer forest is the major community of the
Subalpine areas include the upper limit for the growth of standing trees. From 8,000 feet to treeline, plants are fewer in overall number with exposed patches of bare ground providing a harsh environment.
Wildlife
Species that are typically found in these forested areas are black bear, red fox, mule deer, marten, cougar, brown creeper, a variety of chipmunk species, raccoon, mountain chickadee, pika, a variety of squirrel species, white-headed woodpecker, coyote, bobcat, weasel, a variety of mouse species, long-toed salamander, skunk, and a wide variety of bat species.[34] Areas such as Reflection Lake attract waterfowl, including Canada geese, great blue heron, snowy egret, and kingfisher.[35]
Lassen Volcanic Park is home to the Sierra Nevada red fox in particular, one of the rarest mammals in California. 20 individuals have been identified in the park, making it the largest known Sierra Nevada red fox population.[36]
A repopulation of wolves in California began in late December 2011. A northwestern wolf pack originally from Oregon known as the Lassen Pack inhabits the forest surrounding this national park. Other residential California wolves are the Beckwourth and Whaleback packs.[37] The Shasta pack, which formerly was in the forest near this park, no longer appears to be extant.[38]
Geology
Formation of basement rocks
In the
Also in the Pliocene,
Another group of andesite lava flows called the Flatiron, erupted during this time and covered the southwestern part of the park's area. The park by this time was a relatively featureless and large lava plain. Subsequently, the Eastern basalt flows erupted along the eastern boundary of what is now the park, forming low hills that were later eroded into rugged terrain.
Volcanoes rise
Pyroclastic eruptions then started to pile tephra into cones in the northern area of the park.
Mount Tehama (also known as Brokeoff Volcano) rose as a stratovolcano in the southwestern corner of the park during the Pleistocene. It was made of roughly alternating layers of andesitic lavas and tephra (volcanic ash, breccia, and pumice) with increasing amounts of tephra with elevation. At its height, Tehama was probably about 11,000 ft (3,400 m) high.
Approximately 350,000 years ago its cone collapsed into itself and formed a two-mile (3.2 km) wide caldera after it emptied its throat and partially did the same to its magma chamber in a series of eruptions. One of these eruptions occurred where Lassen Peak now stands, and consisted of fluid, black, glassy dacite, which formed a layer 1,500 ft (460 m) thick (outcroppings of which can be seen as columnar rock at Lassen's base).
During glacial periods (ice ages) of the present
Roughly 27,000 years ago (older data gave an age of 18,000 years), Lassen Peak started to form as a dacite lava dome quickly pushed its way through Tehama's former north-eastern flank. As the lava dome pushed its way up, it shattered overlaying rock, which formed a blanket of talus around the emerging volcano. Lassen rose and reached its present height in a relatively short time, probably in as little as a few years. Lassen Peak has also been partially eroded by Ice Age glaciers, at least one of which extended as much as 7 mi (11 km) from the volcano itself.
Since then, smaller dacite domes formed around Lassen. The largest of these, Chaos Crags, is just north of Lassen Peak. Phreatic (steam explosion) eruptions, dacite and andesite lava flows and cinder cone formation have persisted into modern times.
There are active hot springs and mud pots in the Lassen area. Some of these springs are the site of occurrence of certain extremophile micro-organisms, that are capable of surviving in extremely hot environments.[39]
See also
- Geology of the Lassen volcanic area
- Geothermal areas in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- List of national parks of the United States
- National parks in California
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Lassen Volcanic National Park
- Protected areas of the United States
- Volcanic Legacy Scenic Byway
Footnotes
- ^ "Listing of acreage – December 31, 2011" (XLSX). Land Resource Division, National Park Service. Retrieved March 7, 2012. (National Park Service Acreage Reports)
- ^ "NPS Annual Recreation Visits Report". National Park Service. Retrieved March 8, 2019.
- ^ Topinka, Topink (May 11, 2005). "Lassen Peak Volcano, California". United States Geological Survey. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ "HOTSPOT: California On The Edge: Cascade Range Volcanoes". California Academy of Sciencies. Archived from the original on March 6, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ Lynch, David K. "Volcanoes and their relationship to plate tectonics". SanAndreasFault.org. Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ Clynne, Michael A; Janik, Cathy J; Muffler, LJP. "Hot Water in Lassen Volcanic National Park: Fumaroles, Steaming Ground, and Boiling Mudpots" (PDF). United States Geological Survey. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 30, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012.
- ^ Lee, Robert F (2001). "The Story of the Antiquities Act". Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved March 11, 2012. Chapter 8: The Proclamation of National Monuments Under the Antiquities Act, 1906–1970
- ^ a b c d e f Geology of National Parks, pp. 542–46.
- ^ Geology of U.S. Parklands, p. 154.
- ^ "NPS 2003 General Management Plan, Wilderness Zone" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on June 1, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2009.
- ^ USGS: Volcano Hazards of the Lassen Volcanic National Park Area, California
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ Newspapers.com.
- ^ SFGATE, Ashley Harrell (August 18, 2021). "More than a third of beloved Calif. national park torched by fire". SFGATE. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 19, 2021.
- ^ "Dixie Fire - Lassen Volcanic National Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Visiting After the Dixie Fire - Lassen Volcanic National Park (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. July 26, 2022. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
- ^ "Lassen Volcanic NP". National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
- ^ "Public Use Reporting and Counting Instructions". Archived from the original on April 8, 2013. Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- ^ a b "Geology Fieldnotes for Lassen Volcanic National Park California". Archived from the original on June 13, 2011. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
- .
- ^ "Glaciers Online". Archived from the original on March 5, 2007.
- ^ "Winter Driving Tips". Caltrans. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "Lassen Volcanic National Park Alerts & Conditions". National Park Service. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ "USDA Interactive Plant Hardiness Map". United States Department of Agriculture. Archived from the original on July 4, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ^ "Cascade Snow". Skimountaineer.com. Archived from the original on May 25, 2006. Retrieved August 4, 2012.
- ^ "NOWData - NOAA Online Weather Data". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1991-2020". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "Summary of Monthly Normals 1981-2010". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
- ^ "PRISM Climate Group, Oregon State University". www.prism.oregonstate.edu. Archived from the original on July 25, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ^ "U.S. Potential Natural Vegetation, Original Kuchler Types, v2.0 (Spatially Adjusted to Correct Geometric Distortions)". Data Basin. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved July 12, 2019.
- ^ Franklin, Jerry, F; Fites-Kaufmann, Jo Ann (1996). "Status of the Sierra Nevada, Ch. 21" (III: Biological and Physical Elements of the Sierra Nevada ed.). Sierra Nevada Ecosystem Project. Final Report to Congress: 627–671. Archived from the original on December 12, 2012. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Bolsinger, Charles L.; Waddell, Karen L. (1993). "Area of old-growth forests in California, Oregon, and Washington" (PDF). United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. Resource Bulletin PNW-RB-197. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 23, 2020. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
{{cite journal}}
: Cite journal requires|journal=
(help) - ^ a b c "Plants". United States National Park Service: Lassen Volcanic National Park. Archived from the original on November 5, 2008. Retrieved January 13, 2009.
- ^ Sahagunu, Louis (July 5, 2019). "A deadly fungus is killing millions of bats in the U.S. Now it's in California". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on July 7, 2019. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- ^ This article incorporates public domain material from Reflection Lake. National Park Service. Retrieved September 29, 2022.
- ^ "Lassen Volcanic Guide" (PDF). NPS. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 1, 2020. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
- ^ "Lassen Pack". Lassen Pack. Archived from the original on July 20, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ Bahouth, Brian (June 30, 2021). "California is home to a new pack of wolves". Sierra Nevada Ally. Archived from the original on June 30, 2021. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
- ^ C.Michael Hogan. 2010. Extremophile Archived May 11, 2013, at the Wayback Machine. eds. E.Monosson and C.Cleveland. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment, Washington DC
References
This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Park Service.
- Harris, Ann G.; Esther Tuttle, Sherwood D., Tuttle (2004). Geology of National Parks (6th ed.). Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing. ISBN 0-7872-9971-5.)
{{cite book}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link - Volcano Hazards of the Lassen Volcanic National Park Area, California, U.S. Geological SurveyFact Sheet 022–00, Online version 1.0 (adapted public domain text; accessed September 25, 2006)
External links
- "Lassen Volcanic National Park". National Park Service. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- "Volcano Hazards of the Lassen Volcanic National Park Area". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- "USGS: Geology of Lassen Volcanic National Park". U.S. Geological Survey. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- "Historic images of Lassen National Park". University of California. Retrieved May 21, 2011.
- "A Fateful Year at Cinder Cone", NASA Earth Observatory, history of the 1666 eruption. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. CA-270, "Lassen Park Road, Mineral, Tehama County, CA", 41 photos, 6 color transparencies, 92 data pages, 4 photo caption pages