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What Is The Geological Origins Of The Region

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Section One: Geological Origins of the Region
The geological origins of the region began around fifteen thousand years ago until about two thousand years ago. Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve was constructed from three lava fields running entirely from the Great Rift in Idaho. “Lava erupted from the Great Rift, a series of deep cracks that start near the visitor center and stretch fifty two miles (eighty four km.) to the southeast. During this time the Craters of the Moon lava field grew to cover six hundred and eighteen square miles (one thousand six hundred square km.).The smaller Wapi and Kings Bowl lava fields also formed along the Great Rift during the most recent eruptive period (approximately two thousand years …show more content…

The National Monument and Preserve encompasses the entire Great Rift volcanic rift zone, along the more than fifty-mile zone of fractures and eruptions. Three of the lava fields found along the Great Rift are sectioned off and included on the preserve’s land. Although there are no real endangered species of the region, Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is home to unique wildlife that can only be found on the preserve. “Subspecies of Great Basin pocket mouse, American pika, yellow-pine chipmunk, and yellow-bellied marmot are found nowhere else; while lava tube beetles and many other cave animals are found only in the lava tubes of eastern Idaho.” (“Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve” 2017)
Section Four: Characteristics of the Area that Make It Important to Preserve Due to the area’s unique structure, the National Park is made up of three great basaltic lava fields. Each are strung along the Great Rift and formed during great eruptions. Each field has unique characteristics that are indigenous to the United States and important enough to preserve.
Section Five: Effects this Area had on Human History and Why it is Unique and Important to Preserve from that Perspective Early in recorded

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