Crater Lake
Template:Short description {{#invoke:other uses|otheruses}} Template:Use American English Template:Use mdy dates Template:Infobox body of water Crater Lake (Klamath: Template:Lang)<ref name="giiwas">Template:Cite web</ref> is a volcanic crater lake in south-central Oregon in the Western United States. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and is a tourist attraction for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a Template:Convert caldera<ref name="facl">Template:Cite web</ref> that was formed around 7,700 (± 150) years ago<ref name="SI_GVP ">
Template:Cite gvp</ref>
by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. No rivers flow 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 150 years.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref> With a depth of Template:Convert,<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> the lake is the deepest in the United States. In the world, it ranks eleventh for maximum depth, as well as fifth for mean depth.
Crater Lake features two small islands. Wizard Island, located near the western shore of the lake, is a cinder cone about Template:Convert in size. Phantom Ship, a natural rock pillar, is located near the southern shore.
Since 2002, one of Oregon's regular-issue license-plate design has featured Crater Lake<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and a one-time plate surcharge is used to support the operation of Crater Lake National Park.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The commemorative Oregon State Quarter, which was released by the United States Mint in 2005, features an image of Crater Lake on its reverse.<ref>
Template:Cite web</ref>
The lake and surrounding park areas offer many recreational activities, including hiking, biking, snowshoeing, fishing, and cross-country skiing, and during the summer, campgrounds and lodges at Crater Lake are open to visitors.
Location
Crater Lake is in Klamath County, around Template:Convert northwest of the county seat of Klamath Falls, and about Template:Convert northeast of the city of Medford.<ref name="us-park-service-directions">Template:Cite web</ref>
A Native American connection with this area has been traced back to before the eruption of Mount Mazama. Archaeologists have found sandals and other artifacts buried under layers of ash, dust, and pumice that antedate the eruption roughly 7,700 years ago.<ref name=":6" /> Crater Lake remains significant to the Klamath tribes today.<ref name=":4" /> The Klamath name for the lake is Giiwas.<ref name=":6" />
In June 1853, Isaac Skeeter, John Wesley Hillman, and another man were the first non-Native Americans to report sighting the lake, while on a mining trip; Skeeter named it "Deep Blue Lake," inspired by Hillman's description of the site. The lake was renamed at least three times, as Blue Lake, Lake Majesty, and finally Crater Lake.<ref>
Template:Cite book</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Dimensions and depth
The lake is Template:Convert across, with a caldera rim ranging in elevation from Template:Convert and an average lake depth of Template:Convert. The lake's maximum depth has been measured at Template:Convert,<ref name="facl"/><ref name=":0" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which fluctuates slightly as the weather changes.<ref name="facl"/> On the basis of maximum depth, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States, the second-deepest in North America (after Great Slave Lake in Canada), and the eleventh-deepest lake in the world.<ref>Template:Cite encyclopedia</ref> Crater Lake is often cited as the seventh-deepest lake in the world, but this ranking excludes Lake Vostok in Antarctica,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=herald>Template:Cite news</ref> which is beneath about Template:Convert of ice, and the recent depth soundings of O'Higgins/San Martín Lake, which is along the border of Chile and Argentina.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
When considering the mean, or average depth of lakes, Crater Lake becomes the deepest lake in the Western Hemisphere and the third-deepest in the world. Crater Lake Institute Director and limnologist Owen Hoffman states that "Crater Lake is the deepest, when compared on the basis of average depth among lakes whose basins are entirely above sea level. The average depths of Lakes Baikal and Tanganyika are deeper than Crater Lake; however, both have basins that extend below sea level."<ref name=herald/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Geology
Mount Mazama, part of the Cascade Range volcanic arc, was built up mostly of andesite, dacite, and rhyodacite over a period of at least 400,000 years. The caldera was created in a massive volcanic eruption between 6,000 and 8,000 years ago that led to the subsidence of Mount Mazama. About Template:Convert of rhyodacite was erupted in this event. Since that time, all eruptions on Mazama have been confined to the caldera.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Jewell and McRae, p. 571</ref>
Lava eruptions later created a central platform, Wizard Island, Merriam Cone, and other, smaller volcanic features, including a rhyodacite dome that was eventually created atop the central platform. Sediments and landslide debris also covered the caldera floor.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Eventually, the caldera cooled, allowing rain and snow to accumulate and form a lake. Landslides from the caldera rim thereafter formed debris fans and turbidite sediments on the lake bed. Fumaroles and hot springs remained common and active during this period. Also after some time, the slopes of the lake's caldera rim more or less stabilized, streams restored a radial drainage pattern on the mountain, and dense forests began to revegetate the barren landscape. It is estimated that about 720 years was required to fill the lake to its present depth of Template:Convert. Much of this occurred during a period when the prevailing climate was less moist than at present.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
Some hydrothermal activity remains along the lake floor, suggesting that at some time in the future, Mazama may erupt once again.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Climate
Crater Lake features a subalpine climate, with the rare dry-summer type (Köppen classification Dsc) owing to its high elevation and – like all of Oregon – the strong summer influence of the North Pacific High. In the summer, the weather is mild and dry, but in the winter is cold and the powerful influence of the Aleutian Low allows for enormous snowfalls averaging Template:Convert per year and maximum snow cover averaging Template:Convert. This snow does not usually melt until mid-July, and allows for substantial glaciers on adjacent mountains. In the winter of 1949/1950 as much as Template:Convert of snow fell, while the less complete snow cover records show cover as high as Template:Convert occurred during another particularly unsettled winter in 1981/1982.<ref>National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; Climate at a Glance: Oregon Climate Division 5 (High Plateau) October to June Precipitation Template:Webarchive</ref> The heaviest daily snowfall was Template:Convert, which occurred as recently as February 28, 1971; Template:Convert or more in one storm has occurred in both June and September. Hard frost is possible even into the summer, and the average window for freezing temperatures is August 20 through July 10, while for measurable (≥Template:Convert) snowfall, September 28 through June 11.<ref name=NOWData /> Template:Clear left
Ecology
Since the collapse of Mount Mazama due to a volcanic eruption formed Crater Lake, no fish inhabited the lake until William Gladstone Steel decided to stock it in 1888 to allow for fishing.<ref name=":1">Template:Cite web</ref> Regular stocking continued until 1941, when it was evident that the fish could maintain a stable population without outside interference. Six species of fish were originally stocked, but only two species have survived: kokanee salmon and rainbow trout, with the former being the most plentiful.<ref name=":1" /> Fishing in Crater Lake is promoted because the fish species are not indigenous to the lake.<ref name=":2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Crater Lake is also known for the "Old Man of the Lake", a full-sized tree which is now a log that has been bobbing vertically in the lake for over a century.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> The low temperature of the water has slowed the decomposition of the wood, hence its longevity.
In 1987, scientists sent a submersible down to the depths of Crater Lake to obtain more information about the geology at the bottom of the lake,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and inspect moss samples found in moss beds as deep as Template:Convert.<ref name=":3">Template:Cite web</ref>
Due to several unique factors, mainly that the lake has no inlets or tributaries, the waters of Crater Lake are some of the purest in the world because of the absence of pollutants. Clarity readings from a Secchi disk have consistently been measured as being Template:Convert, which is very clear for any natural body of water.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1997, scientists recorded a record clarity of Template:Convert. However, in 2025, scientists recorded a clarity of Template:Convert, which means the lake's water getting clearer and may be an indication of issues with the lake’s physics, chemistry, and ecology.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
The lake has relatively high levels of dissolved salts, total alkalinity, and conductivity. The average pH has generally ranged between 7 and 8.<ref>
Template:Cite web</ref>
Sacred significance
.jpg){kind=link}
The Klamath tribe of Native Americans, whose oral history describes their ancestors witnessing the collapse of Mount Mazama and the formation of Crater Lake,<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> regard the lake as an "abode to the Great Spirit".<ref>Diller, J.S. (1898). Crater Lake, Oregon</ref> Klamath oral history tells of a battle between the sky god Skell and the god of the underworld Llao (a prominent feature at Crater Lake is Llao Rock). Mount Mazama was destroyed in the battle, creating Crater Lake, called giiwas in the Klamath language.<ref name="giiwas" /> The Klamath people used Crater Lake in vision quests, which often involved climbing the caldera walls and other dangerous tasks. Those who were successful in such quests were often regarded as having more spiritual powers. The tribe still holds Crater Lake in high regard as a spiritual site.<ref name=":6">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Recreation
Located Template:Convert north of the city of Klamath Falls and Template:Convert northeast of Medford, Crater Lake can be reached from U.S. Route 97 on the east, on the southwest by Highway 62, and on the northwest by Highway 138.<ref name=NPS_MAP>Template:Cite web</ref> Crater Lake and the remnants of Mount Mazama can be seen from Rim Drive, a Template:Convert road that surrounds the caldera,Template:Sfn which is the only part within the Crater Lake National Park where vehicles are permitted.<ref name=NPS_MAP/> The Garfield Peak Trail, which runs Template:Convert east from the Crater Lake Lodge, offers views from Template:Convert above the lake's surface, with Mount Shasta visible Template:Convert southward. Another trail runs for Template:Convert from Rim Drive's eastern edge to Mount Scott, which offers views of central and southern Oregon such as the Three Sisters located Template:Convert north of Mazama and Mount Thielsen, also to the north. The Cleetwood trail leads for Template:Convert down the northern flank of the caldera rim, eventually reaching Cleetwood Cove where boat trips run from late June or early July throughout the summer season to Wizard Island. Wizard Island can be climbed, offering views of Crater Lake.Template:Sfn
Swimming is permitted in Crater Lake, but the only legal and safe way to get to the shore is by following Cleetwood Cove trail and people can enter the water from there.<ref name=":4">Template:Cite web</ref> Other activities include fishing and a 2-hour boat tour around the lake provided by a Park Ranger from Crater Lake National Park.<ref name=":5">Template:Cite web</ref>
As the region lies within a national park area, collecting rocks within the vicinity is prohibited unless a permit is obtained.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> The park's facilities lie at Rim Village, at the southern edge of the caldera.<ref name=NPS_MAP/> Lodging and camping facilities open during the summer season between May and October.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> No lodges, gas stations, or camping areas remain open from October through late May.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Popular activities within Crater Lake National Park include biking,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> fishing,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
Notes
References
- Template:Cite book
- Geology of National Parks: Fifth Edition, Ann G. Harris, Esther Tuttle, Sherwood D. Tuttle, (Iowa, Kendall/Hunt Publishing; 1997) Template:ISBN
- Template:Cite journal
- Oregon, Moon Handbooks, Judy Jewell, W. C. McRae, (Avalon Travel, Berkeley; 2012, 9th edition) Template:ISBN
External links
- NPS: Crater Lake National Park
- Crater Lake Data Clearinghouse
- Oregon Institute of Technology: Crater Lake Digital Research Collection
- Pages with broken file links
- Crater Lake (Oregon)
- Crater Lake National Park
- Lakes of Oregon
- Volcanic crater lakes
- Sacred lakes of the Americas
- Religious places of the Indigenous peoples of North America
- Cascade Volcanoes
- Subduction volcanoes
- Calderas of Oregon
- VEI-7 volcanoes
- Cascade Range
- Lakes of Klamath County, Oregon
- Volcanism of Oregon