Get Premium
Dark mode theme is available exclusively for premium users. Learn more about the benefits of subscribing.
No fees, cancel anytime.
Dark Mode 
No fees, cancel anytime 
then open in external browser
and click "Open in External Browser" 
55 Photos Of Lassen Volcanic National Park That Look Like They’re Taken At Another Planet
Earth is amazing. It's full of incredible places and creatures. The Painted Dunes (near the Cinder Cone) of the Lassen Volcanic National Park is one of those unbelievable and unique spots that look like they belong in a fairytale or on an Avatar-like planet.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is a United States National Park that can be found in northeastern California. Lassen's volcanic domes began to erupt about 825,000 years ago and currently, the area sleeps. That doesn't mean that the volcanoes are not active though - steam vents, boiling springs, and bubbling mudpots are proof that the volcanic center still smolders.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is unique in a way that all four types of volcanoes found in the world (shield, composite, cinder cone, and plug dome) are found at Lassen Volcanic.
The Painted Dunes are multi-colored fields formed by oxidation of volcanic ash.
Take a look at some of the incredible images of The Painted Dunes below.
More info: nps.gov
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
RELATED:
#2
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
If it wasn't for the trees, I'd be thinking "Some sort of dessert? Jello? I bet it's Japanese!"
#3
#5
Marzo Florida 8 years ago
Idk where this is, but it reminds me of Japan's mountains and volcanoes :)
#6
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
Oh yes - I see what you mean. Guess it's a very harsh climate. A tiny change, say in the height of the water table, might be enough to cancel their tenuous grasp on life.
Load More Replies...
#8
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
Serene shapes, but with such a violent genesis. It's a wonderful, terrifying world.
ThePurpleness 8 years ago
Why introduce politics into such an a-political, beautiful post?
Load More Replies...
#9
#12
JillVille Child Care 8 years ago
Notice the dried lava flow across the top left of this photo. Wow.
#13
#14
Wayne Hallam 8 years ago
Tis snow. Lassen has snow on it 10 months of the year.
Load More Replies... 
#18
#22
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
Like human skin. I keep thinking I can ever see that fine hair on it that women have.
#27
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
Same exact location as the previous one, but a very different colour treatment. Different camera? Different time of day? Or some post-production effects? I'd love to know.
#32
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
Hello again, Marzo! Yes, I agree with you. Maybe the camera's automatic settings had strongly adjusted to the predominant orangey-reds in the scene, causing it to become over-sensitive to the blue. Or the photographer cranked up the saturation afterwards.
Load More Replies...
#35
Ged Maybury 8 years ago
I'm no expert, but yes; that huge patch and bumpy black stuff looks a lot like a Pahoehoe flow - named in Hawaii after the volcano goddess' hair, if I remember it correctly. They're very liquid and flow great distances, almost flat. Then it shatters over the years - especially here in the freezing winter conditions, hence that appearance of giant sandpaper. Do NOT stumble on this stuff! The pillowy humps are from an entirely different type of volcano. Cinder Cones?
Load More Replies...
Add New Image
Explore more of these tags
What do you think ?
Daniel Losinger 8 years ago
What other planet do they look like? And how do you know? Have you been to another planet?
Daniel Losinger 8 years ago
What other planet do they look like? And how do you know? Have you been to another planet?
You May Like 54 Of The Most Incredible, Stunning, And Weird Natural Phenomena 50 Moments When Animals Decided It Was Nap Time, No Matter The Place “Subject Deceased”: 35 National Park Employees And Rescue Officers Share Their Scary Job Stories
Žydrūnė Trukanavičiūtė
Eligijus Sinkunas
Indrė Lukošiūtė
Related on Bored Panda
