Miles:
235
The Ionia “Volcano”
Newcastle, NE; Dixon County
On August 24, 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, traveling up the Missouri River, passed a bluff about 180 to 190 feet high. Clark wrote 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.
ABOVE: 1873 sketch of ferry boat at Ionia | History Nebraska, RG3359.PH002-001
Resources:
Go Noodle: Roar
You’ve got the eye of the tiger, a fighter, cause you are a CHAMPION so let’s see you dance and hear you ROAR!
Duration: 3:08 minutes
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