Crater Lake, OR - Splendor after Devastation

We sadly left the redwood forest this morning after a final hug good-bye for one of the big guys. Our destination was Crater Lake which is to the northeast. We stood in awe to marvel at this proof that over time, that which is destroyed, can become even more beautiful. Just 7,700 short years ago, this was the site of Mt. Mazama in the southern Oregon Cascades. This caldera lake was the result of a violent volcanic eruption. At 1,949 feet deep, it is the deepest lake in the U.S. and covers 20.6 square miles. It is famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. There are no rivers flowing into or out of the lake. This shot also features Wizard Island in the lake which was formed from a cinder cone that erupted after Crater Lake began to fill with water. Some of the roads on this journey definitely frightened me, but I would do it all over again. The fact that we headed east says our journey has taken a sharp turn and now we are moving toward the New England shores of the Atlantic.