Located in southern Oregon, on the crest of the lofty Cascade Range,
Crater Lake National Park has a high place among the Nation’s most
scenic wonderlands. It is a gem of rare excellence, possessing unity of
form and color. At Crater Lake visitors observe beauty in its truest
sense and experience a profound inspirational appeal. Pervaded by an air
of mystery, tranquillity now prevails where once unfathomable volcanic
power was displayed.
The lake rests in the very heart of a mighty mountain whose destruction
resulted in the formation of a vast crater in which the waters
accumulated. It is 6 miles wide, 2,000 feet deep, covers an area of 20
square miles, and has a circular shore line of 26 miles, with
multicolored lava cliffs rising 500 to 2,000 feet above the lake.
Mountain trails lead to the summits of high points about the rim and
down a thousand feet to the shores of a sea of silence. At the water’s
edge motorboats and rowboats are available for those who wish to see
more of the lake or try their hand at trout fishing. Daily boat trips
are scheduled around the lake shore line and to Wizard Island, a perfect
little crater jutting out of blue depths to a height of 763 feet. A
motor drive extends around the crater edge for a distance of 35 miles,
presenting scores of enthralling views of the scenic wonder. The
constantly changing color and the contrast of lava cliffs and blue water
are beautiful beyond description.
Crater Lake National Park embraces an area of 250.52 square miles and
was established by act of Congress on May 22, 1902.