Crater Lake, the namesake of Crater Lake National Park in Oregon, is the deepest lake in the United States, it is a large, bowl-shaped depression formed when a volcano Mount Mazama collapsed into itself, after a massive volcanic eruption that emptied its magma chamber.
Crater Lake is known for its stunning blue color and exceptional water clarity.No fish inhabited the lake until William Gladstone Steel decided to stock it in 1888 to allow for fishing. Regular stocking continued until 1941, when it was evident that the fish could maintain a stable population without outside interference. Two species survived: kokanee salmon and rainbow trout, with the former being the most plentiful.
The waters of Crater Lake are some of the purest in the world because of the absence of pollutants. The Klamath tribe of Native Americans, whose oral history describes their ancestors witnessing the collapse of Mount Mazama and the formation of Crater Lake, regard the lake as an “abode to the Great Spirit”. Klamath oral history tells of a battle between the sky god Skell and the god of the underworld Llao. Mount Mazama was destroyed in the battle, creating Crater Lake, called giiwas in the Klamath language. The Klamath people used Crater Lake in vision quests, which often involved climbing the caldera walls and other dangerous tasks. Those who were successful in such quests were often regarded as having more spiritual powers. The tribe still holds Crater Lake in high regard as a spiritual site.
Wizard Island in the foreground of the sketch, marks the peal of the volcanic dome prior to its collapse.