This upper edge of the hummocky rock debris is thin, and lies on a relatively flat undersurface. As a result, the forest trees grow normally here, in contrast to the dwarf forest to be found on the main mass of thick, sloping, and very porous Jumbles. The pale yellow-green, moss-like material on the tree trunks is called staghorn lichen. It is not a moss, but is a union of two plants growing together; a fungus, giving it form and body, and an alga, growing inside and manufacturing food for both from the air and sunshine. Lichens do not in any way harm the trees, and grow as well on dead material. (0.6 mile) 63 The pink mountain mass to the south is CHAOS CRAGS. It is composed of three plug volcanos of a lava known as dacite. This material was rapidly pushed up in a molten state, much as one would squeeze paste from a tube. As the lava plugs cooled and hardened, steam explosions took place from the base of the cliff, undermining it and causing at least three tremendous avalanches estimated as occurring about 1700 years ago, 700 years ago and the most recent in about the year 1690. Due to the small amount of soil and porous rock, many of the stunted trees in this Dwarf Forest are over 200 years old. (1.1 mile) [Illustration: Landscape] 64 VISITOR CENTER, LODGE and CAMPGROUND, elevation 5,950 feet, is the center of visitor facilities and services. The Visitor Center is open daily. Free naturalist-conducted hikes, caravans, and nature walks originate here. Informal campfire programs are presented nightly in the Manzanita Lake Campground Amphitheater from June through mid-September. The LILY POND SELF-GUIDING NATURE TRAIL, an easy 1-mile loop route, starts just across the road from the Visitor Center. It is unique in having ten species of cone-bearing trees and three species of broad-leaved trees along its short and nearly level route. [Illustration: GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL · CHIPMUNK] Abundant wildlife, including deer and a large variety of birds, is found in the Manzanita-Reflection Lakes area. The most common rodents are the golden-mantled ground squirrel and the chipmunk. The Loomis Museum, with a tract of 40 acres, was given to the Federal Government in 1927 by Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin F. Loomis in memory of their daughter, Mae. On this land are now located the public lodge and dining room, curio store, service station, grocery store and postoffice. [Illustration: National Park Service logo] The National Park Service emblem pictured here was adopted in 1953. Many visitors confuse the Park Service (Department of the Interior) with the Forest Service (Department of Agriculture). Briefly, the National Park Service preserves the National Parks and Monuments in an unchanged state, while the U. S. Forest Service operates National Forests on a sustaining yield basis. (0.1 mile)