Craters of the Moon (Lava Tubes in Idaho)

Biosphere II was a disaster, so it's time to start another. But where?

I reason we'll have to live in lunar caves (lava tubes) at first (protection from radiation is required), so let's see if we can find any here on Earth, and get a practice colony started. Ah here we go:

Landsat

Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve is a national monument and national preserve located in the Snake River Plain in central Idaho,U.S.A. It is along US 20 (concurrent with US 93 & US 26), between the small cities of Arco and Carey, at an average elevation of 5,900 feet (1,800 m) above sea level. The protected area's features are volcanic and represent one of the best preserved flood basalt areas in the continental United States.

The Monument was established on May 2, 1924.^[1] In November 2000, a presidential proclamation by President Clinton greatly expanded the Monument area. The National Park Service portions of the expanded Monument were designated as Craters of the Moon National Preserve in August 2002. It lies in parts ofBlaine, Butte, Lincoln, Minidoka, and Power counties. The area is managed cooperatively by the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management(BLM).^[2]

The Monument and Preserve encompass three major lava fields and about 400 square miles (1,036 km²) of sagebrush steppe grasslands to cover a total area of 1,117 square miles (2,893 km²). All three lava fields lie along the Great Rift of Idaho, with some of the best examples of open rift cracks in the world, including the deepest known on Earth at 800 feet (240 m). There are excellent examples of almost every variety of basaltic lava as well as tree molds (cavities left by lava-incinerated trees), lava tubes (a type of cave), and many other volcanic features.^[3]

Continue reading the Wiki article if you choose by clicking here.

Home, sweet home. From caves we set forth to conquer our planet, to caves we shall return.

However do NOT, under any circumstances, click here. That will take you to the least intelligent debate of all time regarding the Moon. One funny bit of it however is the following graphic, which reveals there will be a certain IQ minimum requirement for future colonists. One mistake in space or on a newly settled colony can be fatal, and although it may seem prejudiced against those of average or low IQ (because they're nice people too, and it is not their fault), failure will not be an option. Perhaps the woman below was a product of the States-run American Public Education system, or perhaps she just cracked under pressure. In any event, standards must be set. Nothing personal.

"Look Mommy, moonflowers!"

Christmas on the Moon