CRATTER LAKE NATIONAL PARK

IN OREGON

Lynn Hogan
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE OF AMERICA Edited by Samantha Smith
Table of Contents
Oregons Premier National Park ................................................................................................. 1
Natural Beauty ............................................................................................................................... 1
Popularity ........................................................................................................................................ 2
History ............................................................................................................................................. 2
Development .................................................................................................................................. 2
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 2
Works Cited........................................................................................................................................ 4

i
Table of Figures
Figure 1 Large lake with chunks of ice. ............................................................................................ 1
Figure 2 Red fox sitting in the middle of the road. .......................................................................... 1

ii
Crater Lake
Oregons Premier National Park
Approximately 7,700 years ago, an ancient volcano erupted with a force of at
least 42 times that of the much more recent eruption of Mount St. Helens. The
location was in what is now Oregon; in fact, the remnants of the
eruption are the basis for Oregons Crater Lake National Park. The
basin, or caldera, was formed after the top 5,000 feet of the volcano
collapsed. The bottom of the basin was sealed with lava flows,
which enabled the lake to form with 4.6 trillion gallons of water from
rainfall and snow melt. At 1,932 feet, Crater Lake is the seventh
deepest lake in the world, and the deepest lake in the United
States.
Figure 1 Large lake
with chunks of ice.
Natural Beauty
Crater Lake National Park is undoubtedly one of the most scenic areas in the
United States. Rolling mountains, volcanic peaks, and evergreen forests
surround the lake. Situated at 6,100 feet above sea level, Crater Lake nestles in
the Cascade Range. Throughout much of the year, a thick blanket of snow
surrounds the lake, although the lake itself rarely freezes over. The last time it did
so was in 1949. Native Americans and the pioneers who later discovered the
lake were awestruck with the sparkling bright blue water. In fact, three gold
prospectors who stumbled upon the lake in 1853 called it the bluest lake weve
ever seen, before aptly titling it Deep Blue Lake (Hagood).
If your goal is to escape to nature, you would do well to
consider Crater Lake a destination. The clean, clear, cold
water actually contained no fish until they were introduced
by settlers from 1888 to 1941. Now, rainbow trout and
kokanee salmon thrive in the lake water. Wildflowers dot the
Figure 2 Red fox surrounding landscape during the warmer months, and
sitting in the ravens, jays, nutcrackers, deer, ground squirrels, and
middle of the road.
chipmunks are frequent visitors lakeside. Seldom seen elk,
black bear, foxes, and porcupines live in the surrounding forest.
 2

Popularity
About a half million people visit the park each year, with July and August being
the busiest months1. The highest point in the park is Mount Scott, at 8929 feet.
Snowfall averages 44 feet each year over a park that covers 183,224 acres.
President Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill on May 22, 1902, creating Crater
Lake National Park. It is the nation's fifth oldest park.

History
Although on the earths timetable, the volcanic blast that created Crater Lake is
relatively recent, the activity is still considered an ancient cataclysmic event. In
fact, it is the basis of much local Native American legendstories that have been
passed down through the centuries. One legend tells of two chiefs, Llao of the
Below World and Skell of the Above World. The two chiefs were engaged in a
battle which resulted in the destruction of Llaos home, Mt Mazama. The
mountain is actually the volcano that erupted, forming Crater Lake. Situated at
the boundaries of four Native American tribesthe Klamath, Takelma, Upper
Umpqua, and the Molala, the lake was a frequent destination for hunting and
gathering. It was also revered by the natives as a place of spirit power and even
danger. At some point, tribe leaders even forbade others to view the lake, which
meant that it was not made known to trappers and pioneers until the first white
travelers stumbled upon it in 1853.

Development
Considered the father of Crater Lake National Park, William Gladstone Steel
devoted his life to the establishment and management of Crater Lake National
Park. He became aware of the lake in 1870, when he read an article in a
newspaper that was used to wrap his lunch in Kansas. Two years later, he
moved to Oregon and joined a druggist, John Beck, in exploring Crater Lake.
Upon first view of the startlingly blue water, Steel quoted All ingenuity of nature
seems to have been exerted to the fullest capacity to build a grand awe-inspiring
temple the likes of which the world has never seen before. In addition to
encouraging President Roosevelt to declare the lake a national park, Steel
oversaw the opening of Crater Lake Lodge in 1915 and the completion of Rim
Drive in 1918 (Hamlin 76).

Conclusion
Fifty-nine national parks have been established in 27 states. While Crater Lake is
not the largest or the most visited park, it is definitely one of the most beautiful.
Over 1 million annual visitors attest to its popularity and the allure of its scenic

1
Accurate as of May 31, 2017.
 3

landscape. It is well worth the drive for anyone seeking a respite from the city or
a reminder of the true beauty of our nation in it natural splendor.
 4

Works Cited
Hagood, Martin. America's National Parks. Boston: Anderson Press, 2010.

Hamlin, Anci. "Deep Blue." American Splendor 9 (n.d.): 33-37.