Northern California - Mount Lassen, Pit River, and Modoc Plateau

As molten lava in a volcanic eruption flows downhill it tends to harden first around the outside of the flow. If the end of the flow breaks open, lava from the still-molten center may all run out, leaving a long tubular cave. The Modoc area is particularly rich in lava tube caves, including Lava Beds National Monument.

Next page Previous page

Northern California page Panoramas page