NPS Photo
A maar is a broad, low-relief volcanic crater that was formed by a phreatomagmatic eruption, which is an explosion caused by groundwater coming into contact with hot lava or magma. The maars of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve are unique in their size and location. Devil Mountain Maar (17,500 years old), North Killeak Maar (>50,000 years old), South Killeak Maar (>40,000 years old) and Whitefish Maar (100,000-200,000 years old) are the four largest maar lakes in the world. They are also at the northernmost point of where maar lakes can be found in the world. Maars usually fill with water to form a shallow crater lake.
![]() NPS Photo - Andrea Willingham ![]() North and South Killeak Maar Lakes A maar is a broad, short volcanic crater formed by groundwater or permafrost coming into contact with hot lava or magma, which causes an explosion. The maars of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve are quite unique. They are at the northernmost point in the world where maar lakes can be found. They were the first reported example of maars created by permafrost contacting magma. And Devil Mountain Maar, North and South Killeak Maar, and Whitefish Maar are the four largest maar lakes in the world. ![]() NPS Photo Whitefish Maar Lake A maar is a broad, short volcanic crater formed by groundwater or permafrost coming into contact with hot lava or magma, which causes an explosion. The maars of Bering Land Bridge National Preserve are quite unique. They are at the northernmost point in the world where maar lakes can be found. They were the first reported example of maars created by permafrost contacting magma. And Devil Mountain Maar, North and South Killeak Maar, and Whitefish Maar are the four largest maar lakes in the world. |
Last updated: April 29, 2015