2017.10: Lassen Peak, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA

Location: Lassen Peak Trail, Lassen Volcanic National Park, California, USA

Date: 2017.10

Photographer: Jesen

Camera: Nikon

Retouch: Adobe Photoshop

Copyright: www.haomingxiong.com

Lassen Peak, the world’s largest plug-dome volcano, rises 2000ft over the surrounding landscape to 10,457ft above sea level. Classified as an active volcano, it erupted famously in 1915, spewing a giant cloud of smoke, steam and ash into the atmosphere. The national park was created the following year to protect the newly formed landscape. The dry, smoldering, treeless terrain within Lassen’s 106,000-acres stands in stunning contrast to the cool, green conifer forest that surrounds it. That’s in summer; in winter tons of snow ensures you won’t get too far inside its borders without some serious gear. Still, entering the park from the southwest entrance is to suddenly step into another world. The lavascape offers a fascinating glimpse into the earth’s fiery core. In a fuming display the terrain is marked by roiling hot springs, steamy mud pots, noxious sulfur vents, fumaroles, lava flows, cinder cones, craters and crater lakes.

JESEN Photo