Crack in the Ground is a fissure that formed between
cooling lava flows about 1100 years ago. The fissure is about 2 miles
long and 70 feet deep. The length of the fissure can be hiked as there
is an established trail along the fissure's bottom. Normally, fissures
like this one are filled in with soil and rock by the processes of
erosion and sedimentation, but because Crack in the Ground is located
in such an arid region, barely any filling has occurred. As a result,
Crack in the Ground exists today nearly as it did shortly after its
formation.
To get to Crack In The Ground there is a turn off
about two miles East of Christmas Valley, then about 6 or 7 miles
of cinder road to the parking area at the site. When you get there
it is easy to cool off as the bottom of the crack can be as much as
twenty degrees below the surface temperature. |
