Peapix

  • Bing Gallery
  • Extension
Peapix
Bing Gallery
Extension
  • United Kingdom
    All
    Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil

Bing Gallery

Australia Canada China Germany France India Japan Spain United Kingdom United States Italy Brazil
  1. Bing Gallery
  2. United Kingdom
  3. 2021
  4. August 14
  5. Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley National Park, California, USA
arrow_back_ios arrow_forward_ios Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley National Park, California, USA

August 14, 2021

Ubehebe Crater in Death Valley National Park, California, USA

© Albert Knapp/Alam

When Death Valley blew its top

Deep below Death Valley, in the US state of California, blazing hot magma once gushed up from the depths until it hit water trapped underground. The magma turned the water into steam, building up pressure until the Earth's crust blew its top in a ferocious explosion. The hydrovolcanic eruption sent up a mushroom cloud of steam and spewed burnt volcanic cinders for miles. It also left the giant crater seen in this photo and 12 smaller ones spread across the surface.

The Ubehebe Crater (pronounced you-bee-HEE-bee) is half-a-mile across and more than 700ft (213m) deep. Geologically speaking, Ubehebe and the other craters here are quite young. A 2016 study concluded that the craters were all formed in a relatively brief series of explosions, over a period of days or weeks, about 2,100 years ago. Another eruption could happen, but seismometers in the region will alert geologists (hopefully) to any future volcanic unrest. A trail around the rim of the crater offers views of the colourful layers of stone along the walls. Adventurous hikers can climb to the bottom, but it's a long slog back out again, especially on a sweltering summer day here in one of the hottest places on Earth.

sky outdoor valley canyon nature cloud landscape mountain desert sunset sunrise

Related Images

Zion National Park, Utah, United StatesZion National Park, Utah, United States
Hot air balloons over Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, TürkiyeHot air balloons over Göreme Historical National Park in Cappadocia, Türkiye
Kachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United StatesKachina Bridge, Natural Bridges National Monument, Utah, United States
Sandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United StatesSandstone formations in the badlands near Caineville, Utah, United States
Red rock formations, Sedona, Arizona, United StatesRed rock formations, Sedona, Arizona, United States
Desert bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, United StatesDesert bighorn sheep in Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, United States
Taktsang Palphug Monastery, BhutanTaktsang Palphug Monastery, Bhutan
Sandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United StatesSandstone hoodoos, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah, United States

Today on Bing

Thorny devil, Watarrka National Park, Australia

Thorny devil, Watarrka National Park, Australia

Aug 14, 2024
Tiny gecko on leaf

Tiny gecko on leaf

Aug 14, 2023
Panther chameleon in Amber Mountain National Park, Madagascar

Panther chameleon in Amber Mountain National Park, Madagascar

Aug 14, 2022
Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, between Arizona and Utah, USA

Monument Valley Navajo Tribal Park, between Arizona and Utah, USA

Aug 14, 2020
Male and female Ecuadorian horned anoles in Mindo, Ecuador, South America

Male and female Ecuadorian horned anoles in Mindo, Ecuador, South America

Aug 14, 2019

Related Tags

valley nature canyon mountain outdoor landscape sky cloud rock plant overlooking desert tree stone hill escarpment hillside badlands cave painting
Share photo
Share
Pin
Tweet
Line
  • © 2025 Peapix.com
  • API
  • App
  • Privacy
The images are provided for wallpaper use only.