Hell's Half Acre Lava Field | U.S. Geological Survey
Source: https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/hells-half-acre-lava-field
Archived: 2026-04-23 17:19
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field | U.S. Geological Survey
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
Find U.S. Volcano
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
Results
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Settings
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
x
Map Legend
x
Map Legend
Results
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
Home
Publications
Connect
The Hells Half Acre lava field, the easternmost of the young basaltic lava fields of the Snake River Plain, covers an area of about 400 km2 (155 mi2) southwest of Idaho Falls and is the second largest on the Snake River Plain.
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Bonneville/Bingham Counties
Latitude:
43.5° N
Longitude:
112.45° W
Elevation:
1,631 (m) 5,351 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
5,200 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
The broad, low shield
volcano was dominantly formed from basaltic pahoehoe lava flows that were erupted from a 3-km-long (1.9-mi-long) northwest to southeast trending vent system at the northwest part of the field during a brief eruptive episode about 5,200 years ago. The summit vent area contains an irregular, elongate 0.8-by-0.3-km (0.5-by-0.2-mi) wide central depression that was the site of a former lava
lake that fed late-stage flows. About 10 circular pit craters truncate the surface of the lava lake, and two prominent lava
tube systems are located near the summit vent complex. Two major lava
flow lobes, each about 5 km (3 mi) wide and 10 km (6 mi) long, extend to the south and southwest to the flood plain of the Snake River and surround Morgans Pasture, a large kipuka. Interstate 15 crosses the southeast margin of the lava field southwest of the city of Idaho Falls.
There is no threatening hazard from Hell's Half Acre Lava Field, as it was a one-time (monogenetic) basaltic shield eruption, which will not recur. It is in the far southeastern region of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre volcanic rift zone. Other eruptions in the past few hundred thousands of years have occurred from along all parts of this volcanic rift zone. A low degree of hazard exists along this rift zone, but it is much less than the hazard farther west along the Great Rift volcanic rift zone, particularly at its northern edge in the
Craters of the Moon
lava field.
October 22, 2018
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners...
Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program
,
Volcano Science Center
,
Agrigan
,
Ahyi Seamount
,
Alamagan
,
Anatahan
,
Asuncion
,
Belknap
,
Black Butte Crater Lava Field
,
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
,
Blue Lake Crater
,
Carrizozo Lava Flow
,
Cascade Range Weekly Update
,
Cinnamon Butte
,
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
,
Coso Volcanic Field
,
Crater Lake
,
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
,
Daikoku Seamount
,
Davis Lake Volcanic Field
,
Devils Garden Lava Field
,
Diamond Craters Volcanic Field
,
Dotsero Volcanic Center
,
East Diamante
,
Esmeralda Bank
,
Farallon de Pajaros
,
Fukujin Seamount
,
Glacier Peak
,
Guguan
,
Haleakalā
,
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
,
Hualālai
,
Indian Heaven Volcanic Field
,
Jordan Craters Volcanic Field
,
Kama‘ehuakanaloa
,
Kasuga 2
,
Kīlauea
,
Lassen Volcanic Center
,
Long Valley Caldera
,
Mammoth Mountain
,
Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field
,
Maug Islands
,
Mauna Kea
,
Mauna Loa
,
Medicine Lake
,
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
,
Mono-Inyo Craters
,
Mount Adams
,
Mount Bachelor
,
Mount Baker
,
Mount Hood
,
Mount Jefferson
,
Mount Rainier
,
Mount Shasta
,
Mount St. Helens
,
Newberry
,
Ofu-Olosega
,
Pagan
,
Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field
,
Ruby
,
Salton Buttes
,
San Francisco Volcanic Field
,
Sand Mountain Volcanic Field
,
Sarigan
,
Soda Lakes
,
South Sarigan Seamount
,
Supply Reef
,
Ta'u Island
,
Three Sisters
,
Tutuila Island
,
Ubehebe Craters
,
Uinkaret Volcanic Field
,
Valles Caldera
,
Wapi Lava Field
,
Weekly Update
,
West Crater Volcanic Field
,
Yellowstone
,
Zealandia Bank
,
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field
January 1, 1979
Geology, geochronology, and potential volcanic hazards in the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho
Geology, geochronology, and potential volcanic hazards in the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho
The evaluation of volcanic hazards for the proposed Safety Test Reactor Facility (STF) at the Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANLW) site, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Idaho, involves an analysis of the geology of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area and of K-At age determinations on lava flows in cored drill holes. The ANLW site at INEL lies in a shallow topographic...
Authors
Mel A. Kuntz, G. Brent Dalrymple
By
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
January 1, 1979
Geologic map of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River plain, Idaho
Geologic map of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River plain, Idaho
No abstract available.
Authors
Mel A. Kuntz, W. E. Scott, Betty Skipp, M. H. Hait, G. F. Embree, R. D. Hoggan, E. J. Williams
By
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
View All
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Bonneville/Bingham Counties
Latitude:
43.5° N
Longitude:
112.45° W
Elevation:
1,631 (m) 5,351 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
5,200 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?
Skip to main content
Official websites use .gov
A
.gov
website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A
lock (
)
or
https://
means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
Find U.S. Volcano
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
Results
Filters
Learn More
The map displays volcanoes, earthquakes, monitoring instruments, and past lava flows.
Get Help
Earthquake Plots
To view an earthquake cross-sectional plot, click "Draw Plot" to start drawing on the map. Once the plot area is selected, click on "View Plot" to view chart or "Clear Plot" to start over.
Settings
Map Layers
Earthquake Colors
Earthquake Depth Units
Earthquake Time Units
x
Map Legend
x
Map Legend
Results
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
Home
Publications
Connect
The Hells Half Acre lava field, the easternmost of the young basaltic lava fields of the Snake River Plain, covers an area of about 400 km2 (155 mi2) southwest of Idaho Falls and is the second largest on the Snake River Plain.
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Bonneville/Bingham Counties
Latitude:
43.5° N
Longitude:
112.45° W
Elevation:
1,631 (m) 5,351 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
5,200 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Summary
The broad, low shield
volcano was dominantly formed from basaltic pahoehoe lava flows that were erupted from a 3-km-long (1.9-mi-long) northwest to southeast trending vent system at the northwest part of the field during a brief eruptive episode about 5,200 years ago. The summit vent area contains an irregular, elongate 0.8-by-0.3-km (0.5-by-0.2-mi) wide central depression that was the site of a former lava
lake that fed late-stage flows. About 10 circular pit craters truncate the surface of the lava lake, and two prominent lava
tube systems are located near the summit vent complex. Two major lava
flow lobes, each about 5 km (3 mi) wide and 10 km (6 mi) long, extend to the south and southwest to the flood plain of the Snake River and surround Morgans Pasture, a large kipuka. Interstate 15 crosses the southeast margin of the lava field southwest of the city of Idaho Falls.
There is no threatening hazard from Hell's Half Acre Lava Field, as it was a one-time (monogenetic) basaltic shield eruption, which will not recur. It is in the far southeastern region of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre volcanic rift zone. Other eruptions in the past few hundred thousands of years have occurred from along all parts of this volcanic rift zone. A low degree of hazard exists along this rift zone, but it is much less than the hazard farther west along the Great Rift volcanic rift zone, particularly at its northern edge in the
Craters of the Moon
lava field.
October 22, 2018
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
2018 update to the U.S. Geological Survey national volcanic threat assessment
When erupting, all volcanoes pose a degree of risk to people and infrastructure, however, the risks are not equivalent from one volcano to another because of differences in eruptive style and geographic location. Assessing the relative threats posed by U.S. volcanoes identifies which volcanoes warrant the greatest risk-mitigation efforts by the U.S. Geological Survey and its partners...
Authors
John W. Ewert, Angela K. Diefenbach, David W. Ramsey
By
Volcano Hazards Program
,
Volcano Science Center
,
Agrigan
,
Ahyi Seamount
,
Alamagan
,
Anatahan
,
Asuncion
,
Belknap
,
Black Butte Crater Lava Field
,
Black Rock Desert Volcanic Field
,
Blue Lake Crater
,
Carrizozo Lava Flow
,
Cascade Range Weekly Update
,
Cinnamon Butte
,
Clear Lake Volcanic Field
,
Coso Volcanic Field
,
Crater Lake
,
Craters of the Moon Volcanic Field
,
Daikoku Seamount
,
Davis Lake Volcanic Field
,
Devils Garden Lava Field
,
Diamond Craters Volcanic Field
,
Dotsero Volcanic Center
,
East Diamante
,
Esmeralda Bank
,
Farallon de Pajaros
,
Fukujin Seamount
,
Glacier Peak
,
Guguan
,
Haleakalā
,
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
,
Hualālai
,
Indian Heaven Volcanic Field
,
Jordan Craters Volcanic Field
,
Kama‘ehuakanaloa
,
Kasuga 2
,
Kīlauea
,
Lassen Volcanic Center
,
Long Valley Caldera
,
Mammoth Mountain
,
Markagunt Plateau Volcanic Field
,
Maug Islands
,
Mauna Kea
,
Mauna Loa
,
Medicine Lake
,
Mono Lake Volcanic Field
,
Mono-Inyo Craters
,
Mount Adams
,
Mount Bachelor
,
Mount Baker
,
Mount Hood
,
Mount Jefferson
,
Mount Rainier
,
Mount Shasta
,
Mount St. Helens
,
Newberry
,
Ofu-Olosega
,
Pagan
,
Red Hill-Quemado Volcanic Field
,
Ruby
,
Salton Buttes
,
San Francisco Volcanic Field
,
Sand Mountain Volcanic Field
,
Sarigan
,
Soda Lakes
,
South Sarigan Seamount
,
Supply Reef
,
Ta'u Island
,
Three Sisters
,
Tutuila Island
,
Ubehebe Craters
,
Uinkaret Volcanic Field
,
Valles Caldera
,
Wapi Lava Field
,
Weekly Update
,
West Crater Volcanic Field
,
Yellowstone
,
Zealandia Bank
,
Zuni-Bandera Volcanic Field
January 1, 1979
Geology, geochronology, and potential volcanic hazards in the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho
Geology, geochronology, and potential volcanic hazards in the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River Plain, Idaho
The evaluation of volcanic hazards for the proposed Safety Test Reactor Facility (STF) at the Argonne National Laboratory-West (ANLW) site, Idaho National Engineering Laboratory (INEL), Idaho, involves an analysis of the geology of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area and of K-At age determinations on lava flows in cored drill holes. The ANLW site at INEL lies in a shallow topographic...
Authors
Mel A. Kuntz, G. Brent Dalrymple
By
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
January 1, 1979
Geologic map of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River plain, Idaho
Geologic map of the Lava Ridge-Hells Half Acre area, eastern Snake River plain, Idaho
No abstract available.
Authors
Mel A. Kuntz, W. E. Scott, Betty Skipp, M. H. Hait, G. F. Embree, R. D. Hoggan, E. J. Williams
By
Hell's Half Acre Lava Field
View All
Quick Facts
Location:
Idaho, Bonneville/Bingham Counties
Latitude:
43.5° N
Longitude:
112.45° W
Elevation:
1,631 (m) 5,351 (f)
Volcano type:
Shield volcano
Composition:
Basalt
Most recent eruption:
5,200 years ago
Threat Potential:
Low/Very Low*
*based on the
National Volcano Early Warning System
Volcanoes Hazards Program Links
Assess
Prepare
Forecast
Activity
Products
Observatories
About
Was this page helpful?