Hispanics view the entire West Mesa and the volcanoes as an active site of religious ceremonials and as a living reminder of a cultural heritage based on powerful spiritual ties to the Earth. We Learn From Our Past. Recent human activity in this so called “barren” landscape has been nearly as violent as the natural forces that created it. Ranching, open-pit rock quarries, military bombing, illegal dumping, and off-road vehicle use occurred prior to the volcanoes inclusion in the national monument. All of these destructive activities scarred the land. Today, we have the advantage of learning from past mistakes. Our every action causes a reaction and sometimes it is not easy to fix our mistakes. Keep this in mind while you are visiting the monument and leave the area as though you were never there.