Crater Lake

Oregon, USA

Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States and the ninth deepest in the world, sits high in the mountains of southern Oregon.¹ At over 1,900 feet deep and up to six miles wide, the lake partially fills the caldera of Mount Mazama, which scientists say collapsed following an eruption long ago.^{2 3}

With pine and hemlock trees clustered on the surrounding slopes, Crater Lake is a rich, deep blue color. The water is very pure, and so clear that light penetrates as much as 400 feet under the surface.^{4 5} The water is cold, too; its temperature stays below 60°F even during the warmest months, but the lake has not completely frozen over since 1949.

Wizard Island, the top of a cinder cone that breaks the surface of Crater Lake, rises more than 760 feet above the surrounding waters.⁶

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References

1. Crater Lake. Global Volcanism Program. Accessed 18 Apr. 2013.
2. Frequently Asked Questions. National Park Service. 9 Apr. 2013. Accessed 18 Apr. 2013.
3. Crater Lake National Park Information Page. Crater Lake National Park. Accessed 18 Apr. 2013.
4. Crater Lake National Park. National Geographic. Accessed 18 Apr. 2013.
5. Levy, Dana, and Letitia Burns O’Connor, eds. Spectacular America. Hong Kong: Hugh Lauter Levin Associates Inc., 1994.
6. Geologic History. Crater Lake National Park Trust. Accessed 18 Apr. 2013.

Published 2018-06-18 Last updated 2021-01-17