Historical Marker

Malpais – Valley of Fires

Spanish explorers called this extensive lava flow malpais, or badlands because travel by foot is slow and difficult. The river of lava that flowed down this “Valley of Fires” is from a volcano that erupted 7 miles to the north about 5,000 years ago. Extending through the valley for 44 miles, the malpais averages 3 miles in width. This ropy type of lava is called “pahoehoe”.