A Ride-Along Off Road Adventure: Exploring the Volcanoes of Mojave National Preserve
Unearth the fiery past of the Mojave National Preserve as you explore its hidden volcanoes. Witness surreal landscapes, a lava tube, volcanic craters, and cinder mining, making this journey a geological marvel.
The Aiken Mine and the nearby lava tube in the Mojave National Preserve are two intriguing sites that showcase the diversity of geological and historical wonders within the park.
The Aiken Cinder Mine and the nearby lava tube in the Mojave National Preserve are two remarkable attractions that offer a fascinating blend of geological wonders and historical insights.
The Aiken Cinder Mine, situated in the rugged Providence Mountains, is a testament to the area's mining heritage. In the early 20th century, this mine was a bustling hub for the extraction of cinder, a lightweight volcanic rock used for various industrial purposes. Today, the remnants of the Aiken Cinder Mine stand as a window into the challenges and aspirations of the miners who once worked there. Exploring the site, you'll encounter abandoned machinery, structures, and even the distinctive red cinder hills, which paint a vivid picture of the mining era in the Mojave.
Just a stone's throw away from the Aiken Cinder Mine lies the Mojave lava tube, a geological marvel born from ancient volcanic activity. Formed when molten lava flowed underground, then cooled, these underground tunnels create an awe-inspiring subterranean environment. Venturing into the lava tube, you'll journey through its winding passages, enveloped in a surreal silence. The tube's unique formations, shaped by the flow of lava eons ago, add to the sense of exploration and wonder.
Together, the Aiken Cinder Mine and the lava tube offer a diverse and enriching experience within the Mojave National Preserve. They blend the intriguing history of mining with the mesmerizing geology of lava formations, making them essential stops for anyone seeking a deeper connection with the preserve's multifaceted landscape. Whether you're a history enthusiast or an adventurer with an appreciation for unique natural phenomena, these sites promise an engaging and educational adventure amidst the Mojave's captivating terrain.
VIDEO FILMED: 07/29/2023
▬▬ R E L A T E D V I D E O S ▬▬
⚪ GOLDOME MILL - • Seeking the Abandoned ...
▬▬ L O C A T I O N I N F O ▬▬
⚪ MOJAVE NATIONAL PRESERVE - www.nps.gov/moja/index.htm
▬▬ T I M E S T A M P S ▬▬
00:00 Evidence of Volcanoes
08:32 Aiken Cinder Mine
18:24 Mojave Desert Lava Tube
▬▬ L I N K S ▬▬
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Welcome to the Cactus Atlas! We are Glenn and Amy and invite you to join us as we visit all sorts of locations across the American West. We tour both natural and man-made attractions.
Our base of operations is in the Phoenix, AZ area. We do a lot of hiking, day trips, and campground reviews and hope that we will be a great resource if you are planning a trip to the American West. We also hope to delight you with our exciting adventures!
Пікірлер: 37
That area does look like its from another world. The volcanic rock has stopped me from going out there, for fear of busting a tire or two. Those lava tubes are incredible.
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
It's not an area that I'd want to bring a regular passenger car for sure. But if one has the ability, it's so very worth it.
Fantastic! I just cannot get enough of your adventures! Those lime green plants around that red rock, and really, ALL of the colors of the area WITH the surrounding landscape, the colors are just EVERYTHING! This is the color palette of my life! I was never a huge fan of "Southwest" decor, as such, but the color palatte is def my jam! Earthtones, Baby!!! The cave shots were just stunning! As always, beautifully done!👍
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Thanks so much! Those green plants are super vibrant against all the muted desert colors, aren't they? So cool. 😄
Very GOOD vid! We really enjoy your travels and appreciate the work that you put into your productions. Always informative. Also, great job Amy with your editing skills!
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Thank you so very much! Much appreciated! 😊
Cinders are air-filled rocks formed when lava erupts from cinder cone volcanoes. The cinders were used primarily as a building material for the budding metropolis of Las Vegas. They were also used for road construction, landscaping, and decoration. Information direct from the interwebs. :) Interesting history. What is the abandoned mine in the Mojave National Preserve? Aiken Cinder Mine - Tales from the Desert Abandoned Mine ... The Aiken Cinder Mine is in the Mojave National Preserve, it began operations in 1948, mining cinder cone (volcanic rock). The abandoned mine has been closed since 1990, when they essentially just left everything behind. Thanks for sharing. :) (gotta love copy/paste)
Love Cactus Atlas. Always bringing in new and beautiful images. Slim definitely looks beefy. Thanks for the ride along. Hi Amy.
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Hi there! 😄👋 Your kind words are so appreciated. Slim is thankfully capable of getting us to locations like those in this video. 😄
I really enjoyed this, loved the cavern and tubes at the end. I am always amazed at how clean you keep the windshield of your truck -- really amazing actually. Thanks for the fun adventure.
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
The secret is RainX bug formula windshield wiper fluid. I usually go through an entire bottle in one trip and always carry a spare. I also have a bottle of Windex and paper towels. But, that RainX bug formula works exceedingly well!
WOW, that lava cave is amazing! Very cool trip and thanks for dragging us out to te middle of nowhere to check it out!
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Anytime! This lava tube was relatively small, but others to come! 😄
Lava tubes is on my to visit list .. I want to go even more now that I saw that mine up there.. Mojave desert has a lot of interesting things to see.. Thanks for sharing
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Thank you! You're not wrong about the Mojave! So so soooo much hiding in the desert with history or curiosity. Just a great place to explore. 😄
It’s so beautiful in that cave!! Great find!!! The cinder volcanoes at the beginning of the video look a lot like the ones on the west side of Albuquerque!
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Plenty of volcanic activity at one time. Do the ones around Albuquerque also have dug out areas?
@SwiftyTravels
8 ай бұрын
@@CactusAtlas no- all the petroglyphs are all over the large volcanic rock around the whole area so it’s all protected.
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
That's good! As fascinating as mining it is from a historical perspective, they're much nicer looking as is. 😊
I really like seeing the conder cones, its interesting see all the old equipment out there. The lava tube was cool. I love exploring lava tubes! If you are ever near Lava Beds National Monument in California, go check them out. The lava tube caves there are fantastic!!
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Lava Tubes National Monument, you say? 🤫😉😉
@nationalparksprincess3216
8 ай бұрын
@@CactusAtlas Lava Beds National Monument. 😀
Thanks Glenn. Very interesting to see the volcanoes and the rocks. Would be interested in seeing the ones around Flag too. I've heard that the San Francisco peaks are volcanoes too.
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
The Flagstaff lava tube is definitely happening! Looking forward to it. But yes, lots of old volcanic activity in that area. 👍
The one in Flag is pretty dang awesome and huge!
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
It's been on our list for a good while. Now that we have some experience, we're certainly going to hit it up soon. 😄
Amazing stuff and views lol thanks for taking us with you not sure I’d want to do that cave crawl myself but appreciate you for doing that For one not sure about all that dust lol. Anyway thanks u
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
Always glad to take people along with us! 😊
Cool
Very similar to Craters of the Moon National Monument in Idaho.
@CactusAtlas
8 ай бұрын
We almost went there on our recent trip to the Wyoming area. It's too bad. Would have been fun to compare. 🙂
Have you done the lava tube near Flag yet?
@CactusAtlas
6 ай бұрын
Haven't yet, but it's on the list to do. 😊
@graciel3725
6 ай бұрын
@@CactusAtlas nice!