malpais

[ mahl-pah-ees ]

noun

1. Southwestern U.S. an extensive area of rough, barren lava flows.

Word History and Origins

Origin of malpais¹

1835–45, Americanism; < Spanish mal país bad country

Example Sentences

The volcanic landscape is very apparent in the features of several national monuments: Petroglyph, where the symbols were carved into lava rock;Tent Rocks, where the formations are a result of volcanic eruptions; Capulin and El Malpais.

From Washington Post

I discovered another volcanic landscape 70 miles west of Albuquerque at the 114,000-acre El Malpais National Monument.

From Washington Post

Rising global temperatures have made it warm enough that the ice is beginning to disappear from the sites at El Malpais National Monument.

From Scientific American

“El Malpais National Monument’s temporary visitor center could be replaced with a permanent structure,” said Kevin Dahl, senior program manager for the Southwestern region of the National Parks Conservation Association, an advocate for the park system.

From Washington Times

The National Park Service says El Malpais National Monument on Monday will reopen access to all trailheads, though the monument’s visitor center near Interstate 40 will remain closed temporarily due to a construction project.

From Washington Times