About one million years ago, this magnificent valley was formed by collapse after a series of tremendous volcanic eruptions ejected a volume of material more than 500 times greater than the May 1980 eruptions of Mt. St. Helens. This event climaxed more than 13 million years of volcanism in the Jemez Mountains. Minor volumes of magma, leaking to the surface as recently as 50,000 years ago, formed the dome-like hills between the valley and the skyline to the north, which is the opposite wall of the enormous Valles Caldera. The heat from young volcanism makes this area attractive for geothermal energy.

Photo: J. J. Prats

Photo: J. J. Prats

Photo: J. J. Prats

Los Alamos, New Mexico · USA