Sunday, September 16, 2012

Crater Lake National Park, OR

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Crater Lake National Park, OR ( 1) 
Crater Lake was one of the National Parks we visited in the Klamath Region Circle of Parks of Northern California and Southern Oregon. From Mt. Shasta, CA, where we stayed after our adventures at Burney Falls and Lassen Volcanic, the drive to Crater Lake was approximately 2 hrs and 40 minutes. Though the drive seemed long, but it was very enjoyable for us, taking pictures of Northern California's and Southern Oregon's countryside, where everything was all so green and white (from snow) graced by cows, some horses and some field of wildflowers. When we finally arrived at Crater Lake and taking in our first glimpse, we were filled with awe at this crater on top of the mountain.
Crater Lake National Park, OR ( 2) 
Another beauty that sparkles right before us, the wonders of the work of volcanism that we have been experiencing since Lassen Volcanic National Park. It is once again, another unique and beautiful masterpiece from nature. Very inspiring.  
Crater Lake National Park, OR ( 3) 
It was so amazing to gaze at the deep blue color of this lake, surrounded by rugged and colored cliffs showing its volcanic past.
Exposed Colored and Rugged Cliffs of Crater Lake
The lake also has two picturesque island, with the Wizard Island shown in the first picture above and the picture below. 
Wizard Island, Crater Lake National Park, OR
Wizard Island is a cinder cone volcano named for its resemblance to a sorcerer's pointed hat. It erupted out of the lake around 7300 years ago and features a 90 ft deep crater in its rocky summit. 
Crater Lake National Park, OR ( 4) 
Notice from the picture above that only the one close to the shore has an emerald color and the water's color change right away from light green to deep blue just a few feet from the lake. The lake is so blue in color because of its depth, where the water absorbs all color and reflects only blue. 
One of the interesting features of Crater Lake National Park are the Pinnacles, however, since the East Rim was still closed and we could not access that part, I took this picture below from Watchman Overlook where somehow I saw some volcanic spires that looked like some of the pinnacles.
Volcanic Spires at Watchman Overlook
Rugged Cliffs with some Volcanic Spires from Watchman Overlook
Actually, the Watchman Overlook is the best stop to take a picture of the Wizard Island. Both my Wizard Island pictures above where taken from the same spot where I took the pictures of the volcanic spires.
And here are some more pictures I took during our rim drive at Crater Lake, but not featuring Crater Lake, but what is seen at the other side of the lake.
Rim Drive, Crater Lake National Park, OR
( to the left of this picture is the lake, and to the right are the mountains and meadows )
The Other Side of Crater Lake ( 1)
The Other Side of Crater Lake (2 )
In my next post, I will feature our hike down to the lake shore, and let me end this post with a quote from Crater Lake National Park's website:
Crater Lake - Like No Place Else on Earth
" 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.
Crater Lake 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 7,700 years ago following a large eruption.
Generous amounts of winter snow, averaging 533 inches (1,354 cm) per year, supply the lake with water. There are no inlets or outlets to the lake. Crater Lake, at 1,943 feet (592 meters) deep, is the seventh deepest lake in the world and the deepest in the United States. Evaporation and seepage prevent the lake from becoming any deeper"
http://www.nps.gov/crla/index.htm
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26 comments:

  1. Stunning and marvelous place for hiking..I feel the energy through your words.

    Your pictures: OUT OF THIS WORLD!!!Beautiful, betchai..

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  2. wow betchai, so blue...so nice! isn't it hard to go there? looks like a lot of hike and walking =(

    The water has a very big drop in depth considering seeing that short emerald shore.

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  3. I do not know can I have the same quality of pictures as you do if I'll be there. Wonderful. The island in the shape of an arrow is inviting us...

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  4. thanks Icy, Ayie and Rainfield.

    @ Icy, yes, the beauty of Crater Lake is just so out of this world, isn't it?

    @ Ayie, all these pictures were just from the rim of the crater, no hiking is necessary to get these pictures. Only when one wants to see the lake shore at the floor of the caldera that hiking is needed. I will feature in my next post our hike down to the lake shore. No, it is not that hard to go Crater Lake at all.

    @ Rainfield, am sure you can have the same quality or even better pictures than we have. With your talent and exposure to nature, am sure you could.

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  5. The blue of this lake is wonderful. This place is very famous, but I've never seen it before. Now I see it through your pictures and your description, and you've made it better than I imagined.

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  6. Hi Betchai, it is my first time here in your blog and I would like to say that I like your blog. I am glad to have found you through Heidi's. :)

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  7. The lake's so blue. Looks like in somewhere in NZ.

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  8. the lake will make zen go gaga! hehehe!

    the awesome view reminds me of my friend's mt pinatubo adventure. :)

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  9. I have never been there. I didn't know about the pinnacles. They are cool.

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  10. thanks a lot Ratty, Grace, Mei, Cher and Sharkbytes.

    @ Cher, actually, I was really thinking of Zen when we were there and taking the pictures.

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  11. Then I'll wait and see for your next post betchai! Are you sure the hike was easy or you're just too used hiking =)

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  12. I had never seen pictures of Crater Lake before. I am overwhelmed by the color and beauty of the lake and the pinnacles look fascinating too. It is like another world. Awesome post!

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  13. betchai, the water is so blue and glorious it makes me want to just jump right into the photo.

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  14. OMG! I thought scenes like these can only be imaginary. The waster is so clean,so untouched,so pure!where else on earth can you see that? You just inspired me again to realize my goal to travel overseas. grrrr! i wanna be there,betchai, and see the marvels that you're seeing. you're soooo living my dream.

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  15. And hey,I've been meaning to commend you for your layout but i always forget,lol. congrats, you've gone a long way hehehe. look at your blog, it's so neat,well-categorized,the header and the background are amazing, and the content? par excellence! bravo!

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  16. KimChai!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    i love them allllllllllll!!!!!!!!!!

    he he he he he he he he he he he he

    gosh! thank you so much for this "bluetiful" (learned the coined term from Cher he he he) photos!

    speechless he he he....

    and yah, love the layout....and your photo at the header- makes me wanna run beside you, grab your hat and get my arms anchored to yours while watching the pristine falls! gosh i'd love to be a model for your photos even if i'd look tiny as an ant he he he.....mwah!

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  17. The pictures are so beautiful. Is it snowy year around?

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  18. Beautiful images!! I have a special of Crater Lake on my pvr, from the Discovery Channel HD, stunning landscape.

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  19. What a gorgeous view! Almost looks like a postcard. And the lake are so blue, great post Betchai :)

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  20. My in-laws live in Medford and Crater Lake is on my list of places to visit very soon. Thanks for the pics.

    peace,
    mike
    livelife365

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  21. OMG I had heard Oregon was a beautiful state, but I had no idea, until I see your pictures. It is amazingly wonderful.

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  22. i love the rugged cliffs with volcanic spires...imagine all that blueness captured against that backdrop...

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  23. oh betchai! world of blue, very calming!

    amazing photos!!

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  24. Miss Beth, this lake reminds me of Taal Lake! :D

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  25. haaay kimchai parang paraiso naman ang lungga mo kakatanggal ng istres

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  26. My girlfriend says "Wow!" when she saw your photos. You just gained another fan hehehe. I would love to be in that place!

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THANK YOU SO MUCH!!