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CRATER LAKE US NATIONAL PARK No place else combines a deep, pure lake, so blue in color; sheer surrounding cliffs; a picturesque island; and a violent volcanic past like Crater Lake National Park. |
 National Parks |
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Crater Lake is known worlwide for its intense blue color; scenic views, and inspirational beauty. 
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Crater Lake lies inside a caldera, or volcanic basin, created about 7,700 years when the 12,000 foot high Mount Mazama collapsed following a major eruption. The lake averages more than 5 miles in diameter, and is surrounded by steep rock walls that rise up to 2,000 feet above the surface of the lake. The lake itself is 1,943 feet deep at its deepest point (the deepest lake in the USA). |
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The color of Crater Lake is the product of its great depth, the purity of the lake, and the way light interacts with water. Water molecules absorb the longer wavelengths better (reds, oranges, yellows, and greens). The shorter wavelengths (blues), which are more easily scattered than absorbed, are redirected back up to the surface. |
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With 286 square miles of land and 90 miles of hiking trails, there is a lot more to this park than just a beautiful lake. 
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Photographs do not do justice to the intense blue color and spectacular views. You should visit and see it for yourself. 
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