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1972 Map of Inferno Cone

Name: 1972 Topographic Map of Inferno Cone
Creator: U.S. Geological Survey
Published: 1976
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/

USGS Topo · Published 1976

About this map

The volcanic topography of the Craters of the Moon National Monument dominates this 1970s survey, revealing a landscape defined by the Great Rift and recent geologic activity. The map provides precise locations for numerous volcanic features, including the eponymous Inferno Cone, the massive Big Cinder Butte, and Sunset Cone. Unlike typical settled regions, this area is characterized by vast lava fields such as the Blue Dragon Flow and the Serrate Flow, interspersed with distinct geological formations like the Buffalo Caves and Echo Crater.

In the northwestern corner, the Pioneer Mountains rise above the basalt plains, providing a stark contrast in terrain. Here, evidence of early 20th-century resource extraction appears at the Martin Mine and several scattered prospects. For the local historian or geologist, the map records specific natural curiosities including various tree molds preserved in the lava and remote water sources like the Big Sink Waterhole.