This is the most beautiful place I've ever seen. I almost don't even want to post these pictures because they border on bland compared to the actual lake!!
This is gonna be one of those long, history lesson, posts...
Here we are on our little shuttle :)
And here is a wikipedia summary of the majestic Crater Lake:
Crater Lake is a caldera lake located in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot (655 m) deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 (± 150) years ago by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. There are no rivers flowing into or out of the lake; the evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall at a rate such that the total amount of water is replaced every 250 years.
On June 12, 1853, John Wesley Hillman was reportedly the first person of European descent to see what he named "Deep Blue Lake" in Oregon.
We arrived in the morning and there had recently been a fire, so it was bit muggy and the air was clouded...but it was still beautiful. And it just kept getting better as the morning mist began to fade!
The lake is 5 by 6 miles across with an average depth of 1,148 feet. Its maximum depth has been measured at 1,949 feet, which fluctuates slightly as the weather changes. On the basis of maximum depth, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, the second deepest in North America and the ninth deepest lake in the world. However, on the basis of comparing average depths among the world's deepest lakes, Crater Lake becomes the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere and the third deepest in the world.
This, i'm copying out of the tourist pamphlets we got at the lake. I think it's awesome!
On February 1, 1886, President Cleveland signed an executive order withdrawing 10 townships (360 sq. miles) of public land around Crater Lake from settlement or sale. It was a good thing he did because even though Oregon's representatives immediately introduced bills into the House and Senate calling for the creation of a national park, the bills foundered in the face of opposition from sheep-grazing interests and those who saw the park as a drain on the treasury. It would take Congress another 16 years to pass legislation establishing Crater Lake National Park.
Will Steel's other achievement of 1886 was to help initiate, organize and conduct a scientific survey to plumb Crater Lake's waters. The lake and its surroundings had yet to be mapped or studied. The expedition consisted of 35 men, mostly soldiers, and was funded by the U.S. Geological Survey. Steel took charge of procuring 3 boats and a depth-sounding device, which consisted of a lead pipe suspended on piano wire, wrapped around a spool. Steel's biggest challenge was getting the boats to the lake. Constructed in Portland, they were transported by rail to Ashland, carried by 65 horses and mules to the lake's rim (a trip that took a week), then lowered over the precipice to the shore using ropes, wooden sleds and a full day of human toil.
Here's how Steel described what happened next: 'No time was lost getting our soundings under way. The first was made about 100 yards from shore. It was supposed that we might possibly find as much as 100 ft. of water, but, as the lead ran out, our excitement grew with each succeeding 100 feet, until over 1,000 feet were out. At 1,200 feet the machine stopped, and our pent up feelings exploded in one wild yell of delight.' In a 3 week span from mid-July to early August, the crew made a total of 168 soundings, discovering, in places, waters of nearly 2,000 feet. Crater Lake had been revealed to be the deepest lake in America, surpassing even Lake Tahoe. For the first time, scientific data was available to back up the claim that Crater Lake was not only grand and beautiful, but a site of national importance.
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tributaries, the waters of Crater Lake are some of the purest in terms of the
absence of pollutants in North America.Secchi disk clarity readings have
consistently been in the high-20 meter to mid-30 meter range, which is very
clear for any natural body of water. In 1997, scientists recorded a record
clarity of 43.3 meters.
The Secchi disk, created in 1865 by Pietro Angelo Secchi SJ,
is a circular disk used to measure water transparency in oceans and
lakes.
The disc is mounted on a pole or line, and lowered slowly down
in the
water. The depth at which the pattern on the disk is no longer
visible
is taken as a measure of the transparency of the water.
Our tour guide told us that the water is SO clear, that the first time one of their scientists went to the bottom of the lake in a submarine, he could still see light out of the windows. AT 1,900 FT. BELOW WATER!!!!
Pumice Castle
Outside pic of our bus
THIS is crazy! Look at the picture below, right to the left of the big tree trunk in the middle of the picture is what looks like a teeny rock/island thing. Well that thing is the length of a football field!!!! That's how big the lake is!
Vidae Falls
Some other beautiful photos and aerial views taken by others.
What a magnificent place! It must be spectacular in any season. Can you imagine in winter with snow? I am sure it is very different seeing the place in person than seeing pictures. Lovely photography regardless.
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