Lassen Volcanic National Park
Lassen Peak was originally a side-vent of a much larger volcano, posthumously named Mount Tehama, that exploded with huge force many thousands of years ago leaving a ring of hills some 3 miles across. Lassen itself has erupted several times, most recently after a violent explosion in 1915. Contemporary volcanic activity continued until 1922, by which time the mountain and surrounding area had become part of the Lassen Volcanic National Park. Lassen is the world’s largest volcano of the plug dome type, and is visible for many miles across north California, rising 1,000 feet higher than any other nearby summit.
This park contains all four of the world’s known types of volcanoes–stratovolcanoes, volcanic domes, shield volcanoes, and cinder cones. Over 150 miles of trails and a culturally significant scenic highway provide access to volcanic wonders including steam vents, mudpots, boiling pools, volcanic peaks, and painted dunes.
The pink in the pink snow comes from algae.
