The document summarizes continental flood basalts (CFBs), which are large igneous provinces that form extensive basaltic lava flows on continents. It discusses the Columbia River Basalt Group as a classic example of CFBs. CFBs are often associated with continental hotspots or rifting, and form from massive eruptions of basaltic magma over short periods of time. The Columbia River Basalt Group originated from a hotspot located in present-day Washington State around 16-17 million years ago, erupting over 1.5 million cubic km of basaltic lava in a series of flows.