Malpais
Valley of Fires
Spanish explorers called this extensive lava flow malpais, or badlands. The river of lava that flowed down this "Valley of Fires" erupted from a volcano some 7 miles north of here about 1000 years ago. Extending through the valley for 44 miles, the malpais averages 3 miles in width. This ropy type of lava is called "pahoehoe."
Marker is on U.S. 380 at milepost 64, 1.5 miles west of U.S. 54, on the right when traveling west.
Courtesy hmdb.org
