The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1924-04-11


tain States Monitor.)
Idaho. like the other western
states, ranks high from a scenic
standpoint. In its rivers and creeks
are found most of the species ol
game fish-especially trout-lurins
fishermen from all parts Of the UNI
ted States. Her forests abound Win
wild game; her beautiful valleys
mountain peaks and rugged canyons
offer much to those who wish 10
break away from the daily grlnd
and get close to nature, for rest ana
recreation. The native Idahoan has
known for some time past that the
Gem of the Mountains" excels In
most of the scenic attractions, but II
has only been in recent months that
the citizens OF Idaho have begun 10
really appreciate her wonders and
are willing to tell the world about
them.
Here in south-central Idaho there
is a region which contains unusual
scenic attractions, surprising all
other regions in North America. IL
is known as the "Craters of the
Moon 1t is an area of extinct
volcanoes, craters and lava flow,
extending over a territory about ten
miles wide and fifty miles long. Ge-
ologists tell us that the first erup-
tion in this region occurred about
a thousand years ago and that the
most recent one took place about
hundred years ago. But now 1t Is
a tranquil area and contains great
expanse of dead seas of lava flow,
resembling very much the surface
OF the moon-hence its name. 1t Is
situated 2S miles west Of Arco, Ida
no, onthe Idaho Central highway,
one Of the main thoroughfares be-
tween Boise and Yellowstone park.
The eyes of Idaho are on this partic-
ular spot at this time, on account OF
the publicity 1t is receiving in var
ious newspapers and other publica-
tions and becauhe of the effort now
being directed toward having 1t set
aside as either national park or
national monument.
The region skirts the famous Big
Lost river valley. Pioneer residents
have known of the region for the
past 40 years and have referred to
II as the LAVA beds" 1t has only
been during the past three years
that the Craters of the Moon have
been given due recognition.
R. w. Limbert, well-known ex-
plorer living at Boise, was first at
tracted to the Craters of the Moon
III search of bear and other wild an
imals He had been told by old
time trappers and freighters that
the lava beds was great unexplor-
ed territory which. on account Of it
being inaccessible, undoubtedly was
the home of many species of wild
In June, 1919, he made trip
through the Craters of the Moon on
loot. Accompanied by a companion.
le set out from Minidoka and ira
5ersed the entire territory to Martin
and then on into Arco.
1c was amazed at the wonders he
Jaw and Immediately took steps to
lave it explored further. Hew rote
N article describing his trip for the
5oise Statesman. The article was
Illustrated with pictures taken in the
Interior period, and created wide
pread interest in the region then
nown as the valley of the Moon"
i year later he organized a party of
eologosts, government biologists
nd other interested people from diff
srent parts of the state and the
arty spent fourteen days in the in :
srior, photographed many of the
cenic attractions, told such graph T"
story of the weirdness of the lava =
eds that many people have been q
ttracted to it. q
The Craters of the Moon is not
ne of the beauty spots of Idaho
hen the beautiful valleys, canyons :.
I'D mountain peaks are compared =
ith it, But the Craters of the y
Don does present panorama of =
hich there is no duplicat ton In =
orth America. 1t is a wide ex- -
lnse OF craters and lava that long 81
70 smouldered and died, and where -
lture one time was a seething hell; a.
here it appears thta in ages gone o.
: the earth battled the heavens
It'll volleys of white-hot rocks that
ined back down In a deluge of ~
ath; where a stream of molten la -
spewed from the furnace in the -
art of the world and poured over 20
e rims of the craters, flowed to ="
e north and the south over the p'
eat bed of boulders and left phe- u'
menon in twisted forms and nv
yged peaks of lava. In short, 1t 70
a country with great dead volcan-