TWIN FALLS, IDAHO

SATURDAY, 18th JUNE.

We have a lot of cross country travelling to do in the next few days, with not a lot of sightseeing expected along the way.
From Idaho Falls this morning we headed west and after about 50 miles of flat, arid countryside came across the EBR-1 Atomic Museum, which in 1951 became the first power plant in the world to produce usable electricity using atomic energy.  Until decommissioning in 1964, EBR-1 generated enough electricity to supply all the power for its own building whenever the reactor operated.   Entry was free, a good price, so we did a self guided tour which Mike found interesting (it's all Greek to me I'm afraid) and we were a little surprised by the number of others who were there, considering that it's in the middle of nowhere.
Further along the same road, about 18 miles southwest of Arco, is the 750,000-acre Craters of the Moon National Monument which can be explored via a seven mile loop road which gives access to trails which can take you over, under and around a variety of volcanic features.  We were fascinated by the plant and animal life surviving amongst the lava, particularly the fields of wildflowers which bloom each June.
The remainder of the day's journey was not terribly interesting, almost boring in fact, so we were surprised on arrival in Twin Falls to find an oasis....the fabulous Centennial Park alongside our old friend the Snake River, the Shoshone Falls which are known as the 'Niagara of the West' and tumble 212 feet to the canyon floor, 50' higher than Niagara and nearby Dierkes Lake, which boasts enclosed swimming areas, a sandy beach, picnic shelters, restrooms, playgrounds and trails to other lakes.  In September, 1974, Evel Knievel attempted to jump the Snake River Canyon, near the Shoshone Falls, in his sky cycle.  The dirt ramp is apparently the only remnant of that day.