Crater Lake National Park | |
---|---|
IUCN Category II (National Park) | |
| |
Location | Oregon, USA |
Nearest city | Medford, OR |
Area[1] | 183,224 acres (741.5 km²) |
Established | May 22, 1902 |
Visitors[2] | 468,958 (in 2007) |
Governing body | U.S. National Park Service |
Entrance fee | $10/vehicle for 7 days |
Website | NPS - Crater Lake |
Crater Lake National Park is located in Southern Oregon on the crest of the Cascade Mountain range, 100 miles (160 km) east of the Pacific Ocean. It lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created when the 12,000 foot (3,660 meter) high Mount Mazama collapsed following a large eruption.
Crater Lake has inspired people for hundreds of years. No place else on earth combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs, almost two thousand feet high; two picturesque islands; and a violent volcanic past. It is a place of immeasurable beauty, and an outstanding outdoor laboratory and classroom.