Photo above: Crater Lake now. Right: View of Crater Lake, originally published in 1896. Courtesy Library of Congress.

Crater Lake Then

The Implosion of Mount Mazama - Try to imagine the size of the eruption that could cause a fourteen thousand foot mountain to collapse within its self. Yes, that was six to eight thousand years ago, but that is also what created the crater and lake of Crater Lake National Park and what you see today. For those who remember Mount St. Helen's eruption, imagine if the entire mountain had disappeared into a bowl beneath it. It's not hard to imagine why the Indian tribes saw magic in the lake. Check out the historic panoramic view of Crater Lake at the top of the page and compare it to the current picture on the left margin. See how similar the images are, decades apart.

Photo above: Photo above: Drawing of Crater Lake and cone, circa 1895, C. Graham. Courtesy Library of Congress. Photo below: Crater Lake with a splash of winter color. Courtesy National Park Service.

Crater Lake Now

A small volcano formed at the same time, Wizard Island, which is inactive, and the bowl created by this 14,000 foot tall mount imploding, has created a lake six miles wide, twenty square miles large, with no outlets or streams flowing into the lake. The bowl has slowly filled with water, fueled by the massive amounts of snowfall in the area, and is now one thousand nine hundred and forty-three feet deep. Bounding the water, the surrounding edges of Mount Mazama rise up to two thousand feet above it. The lake is the deepest in the United States and number seven among the world's lakes.

The legends about the lake are many, including Klamath Indian claims of healing powers. When John Hillman, a prospector, found the lake in 1853, there were no fish there. Hard for fish to find a lake when there is not way in or out. (Walking fish had not been invented outside of Florida at the time.) Trout were added in 1888. Plenty of fish there now. The photo above is the view of Crater Lake, originally published in 1896. Six years later the lake and surrounding forest area were made into a national park during Theodore Roosevelt's presidency. Today, over four hundred thousand visitors come to the Crater Lake National Park to enjoy the history, nature, and other tourist opportunities. There are two visitor centers, boat tours, ranger guided walks and talks, camping sites, even shoeshoe walks in the winter, if five hundred and thirty-three inches of snowfall on average each year is to your liking. With all the awesome beauty and unique history of this Oregon wonder, plus a fantastic National Park lodge, you'd actually think that the number would be higher.

Crater Lake National Park - The beauty of the vistas at every turn, on the Rim Drive, or in the forested areas, are some of the most wonderful in the United States. Enjoy them in the variety of ways you enjoy, from hiking, fishing, camping, historical talks, and nature walks.

Crater Lake Lodge - With its verandas overlooking the crystal clear waters of the lake, the lodge at Crater Lake National Park is a wonder all its own.