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Hi, I'm Brigitte, I'm Margaret, and I'm Drew, and we're your Youth In Park Rangers.
We're going to be taking you to all of the National Parks in the state of New Mexico.
Today we're headed to:
Capulin Volcano National Monument
Capulin is a cinder cone volcano that erupted around 60,000 years ago.
This means that it is very young in volcano years.
Luckily, it is extinct, so there are no chances of it erupting again.
Visitors can drive around the volcano up to a parking lot situated on the rim.
The dramatically steep drive takes you about 1000ft above the visitor center located at
the base of the volcano!
At the parking lot, there are spectacular views of Northern New Mexico!
On a clear day you can even see four states from the highest point of the Crater Rim Trail.
This monument is one of the few places in the world where people can walk on a volcano.
There is a 1 mile trail around the rim.
You are bound to be breathing heavily on the trail, so bring water and make sure to use
the benches!
I am standing here on the Crater Rim Trail. Behind me you can see the inside of the crater
and there’s a trail that we can walk down into later.
Imagine this big vast cloud of ash and rocks coming up behind me and causing this vast
cindercone.
Drew: Now the cinder cone is filled with shrubs and trees.
By walking along the rim it’s cool to see the difference in vegetation between the inside
and outside of the volcano.
One of the more amazing aspects of Capulin Volcano is the number of ladybugs that inhabit
the park during the summer.
By looking closely at different plants along the Crater Rim Trail, visitors can see swarms
of ladybugs going about their daily lives.
It’s amazing to see this many ladybugs in one place.
I came to Capulin expecting to learn about the geologic activity in northern New Mexico.
I was surprised by the amount of life in the volcano.
The park is home to a wide variety of animals that includes different types of birds as
well as mule deer.
I never expected to see a deer grazing on the inside of a volcanic crater.
We’re on the 0.2 mile trail that takes you to the base of the crater. Follow me!
Here we are in the crater of Capulin Volcano. The vent, to my right has long been plugged
by solid magma.
Capulin Volcano National Monument has a lot to offer, from wildlife, to hiking trails,
to panoramic views.
You don’t have to be a geologist to fully experience the monument, so come visit Capulin
today!