Metropolitan Portland, like Auckland, New Zealand, includes most of a Plio-Pleistocene volcanic field. The Boring Lava includes at least 32 and possibly 50 cinder cones and small shield volcanoes lying within a radius of 13 miles of Kelly Butte, which is 62 miles west of Mt. Hood and the High Cascade axis -- (Web note: Kelly Butte is approximately 4 miles east of downtown Portland)-- . Only the Clear Lake volcanics in California lie as far west in the coterminous United States. Unlike Clear Lake, Boring Lava vents have been inactive for at least 300,000 years.

Allen, 1990, IN: Wood and Kienle, 1990, Volcanoes of North America: United States and Canada: Cambridge University Press, 354p

About LifeTips

Now one of the top on-line publishers in the world, LifeTips offers tips to millions of monthly visitors. Our mission mission is to make your life smarter, better, faster and wiser. Expert writers earn dough for what they know. And exclusive sponsors in each niche topic help us make-it-all happen.

Ask a Question

Not finding the advice and tips you need on this Portland Tip Site? Request a Tip Now!

Guru Spotlight

Jolyn Wells-Moran

Ever wonder how you could make your life better and more fun? So have tens of millions of fans who have turned to LifeTips for answers over the past decade. We keep the tips, advice, books, podcasts and writing services flowing, so you can keep your life and business growing in the right direction. Upward!