1. Formation

2. Biosphere Reserve

3. References

El Elegante (Spanish for elegant one) is a maar (a type of volcanic crater) located in the Gran Desierto de Altar in the Sonoran Desert, Mexico.

At {{convert|250|m}} deep and {{convert|1.5|km}} across, the crater is the largest in the volcanic complex of Pinacate Peaks.

Formation

The crater was formed about 32,000 years ago when groundwater seeping down into the earth came into contact with magma rising from beneath the crust. The hot magma instantly turned the water to steam, and the sudden high pressure triggered a phreato-magmatic explosion, blowing a huge hole in the ground, and blasting out rocks, magmatic material and ash, forming the crater. Ejecta was spread out to a distance of about {{convert|30|km}} from the crater over what is now the desert floor.^[1] The crater rim is higher than the surrounding desert and shows layers of rock built up from the ejecta.^[2]

El Elegante contained a lake during the pluvial period preceding the last antithermal period.^[3]

Biosphere Reserve

The crater is located in an important area and nature reserve called El Pinacate y Gran Desierto de Altar Biosphere Reserve, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2012. It functions as a natural park; El Elegante is the crater most visited by tourists.^[4]

References

• The Bogey Hole
• The Bogie Hole
• The Bogie Man
• The Bogie Man (comic)
• The Bogie Man (comic book)
• The Bogies
• The Bog People
• The Bohemian
• The Bohemian (Bouguereau painting)
• The Bohemian Dancer
• The Bohemian Dancer (1926 film)
• The Bohemian Dancer (film)
• The Bohemian Encampment
• The Bohemian Girl (1922 film)
• The Bohemian Girl (film)
• The Bohemian (Renoir)
• The Bohemian (Renoir painting)
• The Bohemia of Kristiania
• The Bohol Chronicle
• The Boianu River
• The Boiler
• The Boilermaker Special
• The Boilers
• The Boiling Pond
• The Boiling Rock, Part 1