Crater Lake National Park

In honor of the national parks centininel, a visit to Oregon's only national park was in order. I had no idea of the story behind the formation of Crater Lake. Basically, 7,700 years ago a 12,000 foot tall mountain known as Mount Mazama erupted and as the magma chamber below the surface collapsed a deep caldera was formed where the mountain once stood. Over the centuries, rain and snowmelt filled the basin and because no streams run into or out of the lake the water is pristine and on a good day scientists can see over 140 feet down into the water. The level of the lake is maintained through precipitation, evaporation, and seepage. The light from the color spectrum is absorbed, but the blue wavelengths are scattered and seen by human eyes. The blue of the lake was amazing! It was also fun to find snow all along the road! Snow in July! So fun! Happy to celebrate our national parks by visiting Crater Lake today! 

View of Wizard Island in Crater Lake. 

Snow along the road!