Having a maximum depth of m 1, ft , Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States. Mount Mazama straddles the Cascade volcanic axis and is a cluster of overlapping stratovolcanoes that is the most voluminous Quaternary volcanic system in the Oregon Cascades. The volcano's compound edifice has been active relatively continuously since , years ago, and it is built mostly of andesite to dacite until it began erupting rhyodacite about 30, years ago, ramping up to the caldera-forming eruption.
Excellent preservation and easy access make Mount Mazama, Crater Lake caldera, and the deposits formed by the climactic eruption constitute a natural laboratory for study of volcanic and magmatic processes. Research relating to the caldera-forming eruption has been of fundamental importance to volcanologists, helping them to understand large explosive eruptions, compositional zonation in magma chambers, and collapse caldera mechanisms. The climactic eruption is also the source of the widespread Mazama ash, a useful Holocene stratigraphic marker throughout the Pacific Northwest, adjacent Canada, and offshore.
Three small earthquakes are the first to be recorded after installation of a small seismic and geodetic network at Crater Lake in Beyond the lake, old-growth forests blanket the landscape. Established in , the park protects 15 species of conifers, from towering ponderosa pines to ancient whitebark pines.
These trees shelter a wide array of wildlife, including black bears, mountain lions, elk, and spotted owls. Explore This Park. Crater Lake National Park Oregon. Ritchey, J. Williams, H.
Wood, C. Skip to main content. Toggle menu Go to search page. Search Field. You are here Home. Crater Lake. The Pinnacles are erosional remnants of a pyroclastic flow. The pyroclastic flow is called the Wineglass Welded Tuff by geologists. The color change from the base of the flow to the top is dramatic evidence for chemical zonation in the magma chamber of Mount Mazama. The lower light-colored layer is rhyodacite pumice.
It was erupted early and tapped the upper part of the magma chamber. As the eruption continued it tapped progressively deeper layers in the magma chamber. These deeper layers were more mafic in composition which gives them their dark color. The park has four forest zones to explore -- ponderosa pine forest, lodgepole pine forest, mountain hemlocks zone and whitebark pines zone -- each one named after its dominant tree species. Make sure to enjoy these natural beauties as you hike or snowshoe through the landscape.
Enjoy some outstanding wildlife viewing. With many different mammals, amphibians, fish and birds, Crater Lake is home to plenty of wildlife. Deer, squirrels and birds are most common, but visitors exploring the forests and trails might encounter elk and bobcats.
If you are lucky enough to see these amazing creatures, always remain a safe distance away and never feed wildlife. The warm glow of the sunrise fills Crater Lake in the early mornings with colors reflecting off the water and snow. Sunsets in the park are just as spectacular. On clear, moonless nights, starscapes illuminate the park, and visitors can see satellites, planets and the arms of the Milky Way.
Crater Lake is a great place to test your cycling skills. The hilly landscape requires extreme endurance and plenty of training prior to participation. Rim Road goes vehicle-free two days a year for the Ride the Rim event.
Bicyclists from across the country take part in this ride to enjoy the scenic roadway. Crater Lake is the only place in the world to find the Mazama newt.
This subspecies of rough-skinned newt, also called the Crater Lake Newt , is native to the lake. Threatened by invasive species, scientists are trying to combat non-native crayfish and preserve the existence of these unique newts. Usually found hiding under rocks or logs , lucky visitors may spot one of these rare creatures around the edge of the lake.
The summer fire season at Crater Lake can scorch thousands of acres of land. However, this natural occurrence has proven to have positive impacts on the ecosystem.
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