Ubehebe Crater is a very dramatic 600 feet deep maar volcano.
NPS photo
Take trip to Ubehebe Crater to view an amazing geologic feature in Death Valley! Ubehebe Crater is a large volcanic crater 600 feet deep and half a mile across. This impressive crater was caused by a steam and gas explosion when hot magma rising up from the depths reached ground water. The intense heat flashed the water into steam which expanded until the pressure was released as a tremendous explosion.The western cluster of Maar volcanoes was the first to form, then the southern cluster, followed by Ubehebe—the largest of them all—possibly as recently as 300 years ago. A drive to Ubehebe is part of experience! Look to the west when traveling on the North Highway to view gigantic alluvial fans- another amazing geologic feature of Death Valley!
