Recent Volcanic Features and Activity in Death Valley
Death Valley contains two easily accessible volcanic features which formed within the last million years. Ubehebe Craters lie at the northeast edge of the Cottonwood Mountains, formed between 2-3000 years ago; a 690,000 year old cinder cone lies near the terminus of Wingate Wash in southern Death Valley. Numerous warm and hot springs also occur throughout the region.
Ubehebe Craters are easily accessible by road.
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The cinder cone in southern Death Valley appears as two red-colored hills, easily visible from the highway southeast of Mormon Point. The two hills form the two sides of the cone that are now offset several hundred meters right-laterally by a strand of the southern Death Valley fault zone.
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Hot and warm springs are found throughout the Death Valley region. In association with the young volcanic features, they suggest that volcanism in the region is only dormant--not extinguished. Within the national park, accessible hot springs occur in Saline Valley, while numerous warm springs emanate from fault zones in front of the Funeral and Grapevine Mountains.
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