Largest Lava Flow On the Planet Erupted in Michigan

Michigan. The land of Great Lakes, lush forests, and—ancient lava flows? Yup, and before it became the outdoor destination we know today, Michigan was basically the stunt double for Mordor (we just lacked Hobbits and a ring).

Related: Michigan History: What Michigan Looked Like 750 Million Years Ago

About a billion years ago, the land that would eventually become Michigan wasn't dotted with cherry trees or lighthouses; it was a hellscape of molten rock and erupting volcanoes. Does that sound dramatic? It was.

The Midcontinent Rift: Michigan's Fiery Birthmark

According to the National Park Service, the Midcontinent Rift is Michigan's geologic trophy for its volcanic history. It extends 1,300 miles into what is now Kansas and is a horseshoe-shaped scar along Lake Superior. The rift was formed by a mantle plume, the scientific term for hot stuff from the Earth's core that made a trip to the surface, cooled off, and stayed there. Think Hawaii, but more Hell-ish. 

Unlike the cone-shaped volcanoes you see in the movies, Michigan's lava flow was more of an ooze. Magma and liquid rock didn't shoot out and explode; it leaked out like maple syrup (but much hotter and definitely not for pancakes).

Michigan's Lava Tourism: A Billion Years in the Making

The lava filled gigantic basins that created stacks of basalt that you can still see today. The Upper Peninsula's Greenstone Flow, which Michigan Tech calls the Earth's largest known lava flow, is where magma once reached a depth of 1,600 feet. That's deep enough to sink two Renaissance main towers stacked on each other, and you'd still be around 200 feet short.

Related: Are There Land Hurricanes? Do They Happen in Michigan?

If you'd like to see the ancient flows, you must journey (and it is a journey) to the top of the Upper Peninsula, the Porcupine Mountains, and Copper Harbor. Road cuts and cliffs reveal the unreal basalt formations that tell the story of Michigan before the Great Lakes had been carved. You don't need to be a history or geology buff to be in awe of these ancient formations.