The sixth oldest national park in the United States, Crater Lake was established on May 22, 1902. The park encompasses the Crater Lake caldera which rests in the remains of a destroyed volcano plus the surrounding forestland and hills. It is the only national park in Oregon.
1,949 feet at its deepest point, it is the deepest lake in the United States, second deepest in North America and ninth deepest in the world. Although a comparison of the average depth, which is 1,148 feet deep, to the average depth of other lakes it becomes the deepest in the Western Hemisphere and the third deepest in the world.
The rim of the caldera ranges in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet with the lake surface itself at 6,178 feet above sea level. The park covers 286 square miles.
There are no streams flowing in or out of the lake. The water that enters the lake is eventually lost from evaporation or subsurface seepage. It is re-filled entirely from direct precipitation in the form of rain or snowfall.
1,949 feet at its deepest point, it is the deepest lake in the United States, second deepest in North America and ninth deepest in the world. Although a comparison of the average depth, which is 1,148 feet deep, to the average depth of other lakes it becomes the deepest in the Western Hemisphere and the third deepest in the world.
The rim of the caldera ranges in elevation from 7,000 to 8,000 feet with the lake surface itself at 6,178 feet above sea level. The park covers 286 square miles.
There are no streams flowing in or out of the lake. The water that enters the lake is eventually lost from evaporation or subsurface seepage. It is re-filled entirely from direct precipitation in the form of rain or snowfall.
Welcome to Crater Lake National Park!
The Pumice Desert.
Looking towards Wizard Island.
Hillman Peak.
Water's edge.
Wizard Island.
Another view of Wizard Island.
Looking toward Cleetwood Cove.
A massive expanse of water.
Beautiful blue water when the sun is out.
No beach here.
Wizard Island from across the lake.
The size of this lake is staggering.
The Phantom Ship.
Another view of the Phanton Ship.