2017 Map of Fissure Butte

About this map

Craters of the Moon National Monument dominates this portion of the Snake River Plain, where the volcanic history of Blaine and Butte counties is written in recent lava flows and distinct cinder cones. The landscape is defined by the Great Rift, a massive fracture in the earth's crust that facilitated the emergence of the Sawtooth Flow and the Sentinel South Flow. The topographic detail illustrates a complex system of volcanic vents and formations, including the prominent Split Butte and Fissure Butte in the northern reach. Several distinct basaltic features like the Little Prairie Aa Flow and the Vermilion Chasm Flow highlight the varied textures of the cooling lava. For researchers, the map provides precise locations for remote geological landmarks such as Two Point Butte, Purple Butte, and the deep aperture of Vermilion Chasm.