Crater Lake in Oregon, formed from a volcanic caldera, has a depth of 592 meters and contains crystal-clear water, making it one of the most impressive lakes on Earth.
According to Mother Nature Network, Crater Lake is located in Crater Lake National Park, in the state of Oregon, USA, and is one of the iconic volcanic lakes in the country. Local residents believe that the caldera was formed from a battle between the underworld god Llao and the sky god Skell.
Wizard Island is one of the most notable features of Crater Lake. (Photo: NPS Photo/Kim Chamales).
With a depth of 592 meters, Crater Lake is so deep that if you stacked six Statue of Liberty statues on top of each other, they would still not reach the water’s surface. True to its name, Crater Lake is a water-filled volcanic caldera. According to the Global Volcanism Program of the Smithsonian Institution, it was formed approximately 7,700 years ago when Mount Mazama collapsed following one of the most powerful eruptions in the last 12,000 years.
Over time, this caldera gradually filled with water from rain and melted snow with no rivers flowing in or out; the only source of water comes from precipitation, resulting in extremely clear water with a deep blue color.
At the center of the lake are two islands, Wizard and Phantom Ship, named so because they resemble a ghostly ship rising from the water’s surface. This area is also home to the “Old Man of the Lake,” a 9-meter-tall tree stump that has been standing upright on the lake’s surface for over a century.
The total surface area of Crater Lake is 53 square kilometers, relatively small compared to its immense depth. This region of Oregon typically experiences heavy snowfall in winter, but the lake rarely freezes completely due to its large water volume relative to its surface area. According to the National Park Service, the last time Crater Lake froze was in 1949.
Occasionally, during the summer, a strange yellowish film accumulates on the lake’s surface. While visitors often worry that it is a form of chemical pollution, it is actually natural pollen from the nearby pine trees.
There are no native fish species in Crater Lake, but several were introduced between 1888 and 1941 for fishing purposes. Currently, two species are thriving: kokanee salmon and rainbow trout. The lake is also home to the unusual-colored rough-skinned newt, which has a dark belly and spotted skin resembling a leopard. Additionally, it is home to various wildlife, including elk, black-tailed deer, American black bears, mountain lions, rock squirrels, and bald eagles.
