Mount Mazama
A large mountain, later named Mount Mazama, originally stood at the location of present-day Crater Lake National Park. An eruption destroyed the mountain about 7,700 years ago.
Caldera
After the mountain erupted, a crater or caldera was formed where the mountain once stood. As the volcanic rocks cooled, water collected, eventually forming a lake. This type of lake is commonly known as a caldera lake.
Volcanic Activity
Even though the Cascade Mountains are considered part of the Pacific Ring of Fire, there hasn't been any volcanic activity at Crater Lake National Park for about 5,000 years.
Crater Lake
The main feature of the park is the lake itself, which is almost 2,000 feet deep and 6 miles wide. Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. The park annually receives 66 inches of precipitation and an annual snowfall of 44 feet.
The Rim
The volcanic rim at Crater Lake is large enough to be considered a mountain range. The highest peak on the Crater Lake rim is called Hillman Peak. This mountain, which is 8151 feet in elevation, rises approximately 2,000 feet above the surface of the lake.
Wizard Island
Wizard Island sits in the middle of Crater Lake, and it has a peak that is 764 feet above the surface of the lake.
Article Written By Henri Bauholz
Henri Bauholz is a professional writer covering a variety of topics, including hiking, camping, foreign travel and nature. He has written travel articles for several online publications and his travels have taken him all over the world, from Mexico to Latin America and across the Atlantic to Europe.
