volcanic plains

Basalt-covered lowlands

Volcanic plains are broad, flat expanses formed by extensive lava flows that spread across the landscape and cooled.

Unlike the dramatic cones of composite volcanoes, these plains result from fluid basaltic lava that traveled far before solidifying.

The Columbia Plateau in the Pacific Northwest and vast regions of the Moon and Mars are volcanic plains.

The rover crossed kilometers of volcanic plains before reaching the crater rim.

Related

regolith · Olympus Mons · crust · caldera · fissure · geothermal energy · igneous rock · lava field · lava · cinder · magma chamber · pumice · fertile soil · scoria · flood basalt · obsidian · primordial · fire and brimstone

Opposites
topographic relief

volcanic plainsmountain ranges

Extended series of peaks

mountainous terrain · highlands · volcanic mountains · rugged peaks · mountain chains

geological origin

volcanic plainscoastal plains

Flat land beside seas

river deltas · flood plains · floodplains

volcanic landform type

volcanic plainsvolcanic mountains

Peaks formed by eruptions

volcanic craters · stratovolcanoes · volcanic peaks · shield volcanoes · volcanic cones

Family

plain, volcano, plains, volcanic

Familiarity
Top 500,000
Profile
Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G