description Buffalo Cave Overview
Buffalo Cave is a lava tube in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho. It formed in basaltic lava when a hardened surface remained above molten material that later drained away, leaving a hollow passage. The cave is associated with a distinctive entrance and with the historical discovery of bison bones, and it represents the type of volcanic landform protected within the monument.
help Buffalo Cave FAQ
Where is Buffalo Cave?
Buffalo Cave is in Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve in Idaho. The preserve protects a large basaltic volcanic landscape containing many lava tubes.
How did Buffalo Cave form?
It formed when basaltic lava flowed and its surface hardened while molten material continued moving below. After the molten lava drained away, it left a hollow passage known as a lava tube.
Is Buffalo Cave a limestone cave?
No. Buffalo Cave is a volcanic lava tube formed in basaltic lava. Limestone caves instead develop through the dissolution of soluble bedrock.
What is distinctive about Buffalo Cave?
The cave is associated with a distinctive entrance within the Craters of the Moon lava field. Its passage and opening reflect the cooling and drainage history of the basalt flow.
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