Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes is a valley within Katmai National Park and Preserve in Alaska which is filled with ash flow from the eruption of Novarupta on June 6–8, 1912.[1] Following the eruption, thousands of fumaroles vented steam from the ash. Robert F. Griggs, who explored the volcano's aftermath for the National Geographic Society in 1916, gave the valley its name, saying that "the whole valley as far as the eye could reach was full of hundreds, no thousands—literally, tens of thousands—of smokes curling up from its fissured floor."
Prior to the eruption, the area now called the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes was an unremarkable and unnamed portion of the Ukak River valley. Although never permanently inhabited by humans, it served as a pass for the Alutiiq people, as well as animals such as grizzly bears.[2][3]
The 1912 eruption was the largest eruption by volume in the 20th century, erupting a
The ash-filled valley covers a 40-square-mile (100 km2) area.[6] The ash can be up to 700 feet (210 m) deep.[7] In places deep canyons have been cut by the River Lethe, allowing observers to see the ash flow strata. Since the ash has cooled, most of the fumaroles are now extinct and despite its name the valley is no longer filled with 'smoke' (i.e. steam).[6] Vegetation still does not grow in the valley.[8] The signs of volcanic activity are still visible on nearby hills.
Katmai's most recent eruption was in 1927, but there have been non-eruptive events as recently as 2003. The Alaska Volcano Observatory still monitors Katmai's activity as part of the Katmai Cluster, where there are five active stratovolcanos within 15 kilometers (9 mi) of Katmai.
Visitors to the valley most commonly arrive via bus along the 20-mile (32 km) road from Brooks Camp, which is the only road in Katmai Park. The valley is a source of creative exploration by photographers and naturalists.[9]
Geology
Basement rocks in the area consist of the
: 17–18The 1912 Novarupta eruption was characterized by three main episodes spanning 60 hours. Episode I included both a
The explosion from the eruption was heard as far away as Fairbanks and Juneau, while earthquakes continued until mid-Aug. Ball lightning near the ground was noted in addition to regular thunder and lightning, rare in South Alaska, while severe static disrupted wireless transmissions. Volcanic dust reached Wisconsin on June 8, Algeria on June 19 and California on June 21. Fields of pumice were seen floating in Katmai Bay, 241 km to the southwest, in 1913. Griggs noted 1000 fumarolic plumes over 500 feet high in 1916. In 1917, diffuse steam emanations were still evident and temperatures were 97 °C just 1 m below the surface. In 1918, Jasper Sayre and Paul Hagelbarger noted 86 vents with temperatures greater than 190 °C, the hottest being 432 °C. The steam was measured to be 99.5% water vapor with some acidic gases of HCl, CO2, H2S and HF. Only a few hundred emanations were seen by 1929, and just 10 were left by 1940.[5]: 4–5, 18–20, 45–48, 143–146
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Time sequence of the 1912 Novarupta eruption showing three episodes of Plinian pumice falls over the span of 60 hours, and 9 packages of ignimbrite over the span of 16 hours
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Sequence of 9 ignimbrite packages over the span of 16 hours during the 1912 Novarupta eruption
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Contour lines, cm scale, showing accumulation of ash from 3 episodes of Plinian pumice falls over 60 hours during the 1912 Novarupta eruption
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Funnel fumarole found in the valley
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Springtime in the Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes
Astronaut training
The Katmai Peninsula in general, and the valley in particular, were used by
References
- ^ "Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes Tour". Katmai National Park & Preserve. National Park Service. August 28, 2008. Retrieved January 14, 2009.
- ^ "Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes and the 1912 Novarupta-Katmai Eruption - Katmai National Park & Preserve (U.S. National Park Service)". www.nps.gov. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ Bodry, Catherine. "The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes". Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ^ Hildreth, Wes; Firstein, Judy (2003). Geologic Map of the Katmai Volcanic Cluster, Katmai National Park, Alaska. USGS Geologic Investigations Series Pamphlet I-2778. pp. 15–16. DGGS 14836.
- ^ a b c d Hildreth, W.; Fierstein, J. (2012). The Novarupta-Katmai eruption of 1912- largest eruption of the twentieth century; centennial perspectives. Reston: USGS Professional Paper 1791. p. 135. DGGS 29955 Academia:47452498.
- ^ ISBN 0-89577-087-3.
- ^ "The Valley of Ten Thousand Smokes in Katmai National Park and Preserve | Alaska Historical Society". alaskahistoricalsociety.org. Retrieved October 27, 2017.
- ISBN 9780787299705.
- ISBN 978-1-938086-03-8.
- ^ Phinney, William (2015). Science Training History of the Apollo Astronauts. NASA SP -2015-626. pp. 63–65, 189, 192, 222, 224.
- ISBN 9781888125627.