Ionia Volcano for L&C History Traditional Cache
Ionia Volcano for L&C History
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Difficulty:
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Size: 
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Years ago cars could drive up to the edge of the cliff and exit the circle drive. It no longer is safe for car traffic and continues to erode. Informational plaques detail historical information back to L&C in 1804. The cache is located back of the earthen vehicle barrier on the road right-away. Enjoy the view and explore safely.3.4 miles north of Newcastle on the dirt road from Pfister Park, then right at the fork in the road for 1.8 miles.
Clark wrote in 1804 that it appeared to have been on fire and was still very hot. He also detected signs of coal and what looked like cobalt. Later fur traders frequently noticed dense smoke and fire in this region. In 1839, J. N. Nicollet attempted to prove that these phenomena were not of volcanic origin. Nicollet theorized that the decomposition of beds of iron pyrites in contact with water resulted in a heat capable of igniting other combustible materials. Unaware of this explanation, early settlers continued to fear the "Ionia volcano," which took its name from the once flourishing town of Ionia, located northeast of present-day Newcastle. An earthquake in 1877 aroused new fears of an impending volcanic eruption. In 1878, the Missouri River undermined the bluffs and a large section of the "volcano" fell into the river. The same flood nearly destroyed the town of Ionia. "Volcano" stories died out soon after the Ionia post office was discontinued in 1907. The Ionia Cemetery remains on the south side of the road.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
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