Devil Mountain Lakes

USA / Alaska / Kivalina /
 park, lake, volcano, maar (crater)
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Devil Mountain Lake is the largest volcanic maar in the world.

Maars form when lava hits ground water, a shallow lake, or permafrost, because water expands by 1,000 times when it turns to steam. The permafrost at the Devil Lakes site provided a steady supply of water for the rising lava. The lake was probably shaped during volcanic eruptions about 21,000 years ago, as lava flows came through the permafrost creating violent underground explosions.

Situated on the northern part of the Seward Peninsula in Alaska. The lake is part of the Bering Land Bridge National Preserve.

www.gi.alaska.edu/ScienceForum/ASF17/1785.html
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Coordinates:   66°23'35"N   164°29'18"W
This article was last modified 16 years ago