CRATER LAKE, OR - - Please note, there have been no color corrections to this photo. The water is really this deep blue. Today, we headed inland from Florence; away from the ocean on what would turn out to be a very clear and sunny day. The first stop was Eugene and the REI store. No luck with the correct size of the new sandals I've been wanting. Then, we turned south and headed for Crater Lake National Park and part two of our "History of volcanoes in Oregon" studies.
The lake was formed 7,700 years ago when a 12,000' volcano collapsed upon itself . The result was a caldera, a bowl (4.5 to 6-miles wide) backed by an 8,400' peak. This huge 'soup tureen' is now filled (altitude 6,173' at lake surface) to the depth of 1,900' with the bluest water you've ever seen and is considered the cleanest large body of water in the world. There are no rivers/streams/etc. running into the crater. This is rain-water and snow-melt only. The area gets 66" of rain per year and 44' (yes, 530-plus inches) of snow.
FYI: The island in the center left corner of the picture is Wizard Island which is really a cinder cone from a later eruption. The area behind the island, which looks like a part of the surrounding walls, is actually a reflection.
It looks wonderful, u seem to travel a lot, i envy u
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