Located about an hour away from Medford on Highway 62, Crater Lake National Park--Oregon's only one--is one of the most spectacular parks in the western United States.  The picture below was taken in July 2000, and there was still snow along the interior edges of the lake. 

Crater Lake was formed in the summit of collapsed volcano Mount Mazama. Today, the lake covers nearly 13,140 acres and is six miles across. It was first photographed by Jacksonville pioneer photographer Peter Britt in 1874. In 1958, scientists established the maximum depth of the lake at 1,932 feet--deepest freshwater body in the United States.  Efforts to protect the lake began in 1885, culminating in enactment of national legislation designating Crater Lake National Park on May 22, 1902. Steve Mark, park historian, described these efforts in an article in the January 2001 issue of Southern Oregon Heritage, the magazine of the Southern Oregon Historical Society.

Last updated on May 23, 2004 © 1997-2004