We had perfect weather for our return trip to Crater Lake, OR. We were able to see the full beauty of the park under sunny, cloudless skies. Joani took more than 650 pictures and I nearly filled my 8 GB memory card, so, hopefully, you will appreciate how challenging it was to narrow it down to the few posted here.
We spent most of the day in the park and we learned a lot about the geography of the area and the formation of the lake in particular. The lake's maximum depth of 1,943 feet makes it the deepest lake in the US.
The variation in colors along the shoreline were fascinating. The shallows around Wizard Island were home to different algae that created the blue-green colors.
The lake is 6.1 miles across at the greatest and 4.7 miles at its minimum. The water level has remained level within a few feet due to a balance between rain/snowfall and seepage and evaporation. The water is so clean it is used as a standard for water purity.
I bumped my head going under this branch and didn't realize, until I got back to the car, that my glasses were missing.
A view of 200-foot high Pumice Castle (to the left of center).
It was easy to see which way the prevailing winds blow.
Crater Lake Lodge was very warm and inviting.
The huge roaring fires in the two rustic fireplaces were certainly warm.
The expanse of back porch lined with rocking chairs, overlooking the lake, were very inviting.
This Clark's Nutcracker would not sit still.
0.7 miles to the top on Watchman Trail to the watchtower. (Can you see it up there?)
I think the snow-capped mountain (9,495 ft.) in the far distance is Mt. McLoughlin.
While climbing up to the watchtower, you could see Upper Klamath Lake, far off in the distance.
Whoa! What a view!
The color in this wall of stone (slate maybe?) made us turn the car around for another look.
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