Long Valley Caldera, Volcanic caldera in eastern California, United States
Long Valley Caldera is a volcanic depression in the mountains of eastern California, roughly 20 miles southeast of Yosemite. The oval basin spreads across a wide upland, with mountain peaks and forested slopes rising around its edges.
The depression formed roughly three quarters of a million years ago following a huge eruption that caused the ground to collapse. Geothermal activity and occasional ground uplift have shaped the landscape ever since.
The first European settlers arrived in the 1850s during the gold rush, while Native American tribes had previously inhabited the surrounding lands for generations.
The town of Mammoth Lakes offers starting points for visits to the volcanic features and surrounding terrain. Roads and trails lead to viewpoints and thermal zones that remain accessible even in winter.
A geothermal plant called Casa Diablo taps into the underground heat to generate electricity. The facility converts the natural energy into power that supplies thousands of homes.
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