Some of the world's purest water and site of Native Vision Quest: Crater Lake, Oregon

Crater Lake National Park was an unexpected stop along our road trip. Located in southern Oregon in the Cascade Mountains, Crater Lake was formed in a collapsed volcano, Mount Mazama.

The lake is known for its incredible blue color and clarity. There are no rivers flowing in or out of the crater so evaporation and precipitation provide the only means of water exchange. Every 250 years, the water is fully exchanged through the condensation cycle. 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 ancestors may have witnessed the collapse of Mount Mazama and the formation of Crater Lake, have long regarded the lake as a sacred site. Their legends tell 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. 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.

The lake's maximum depth is approximately 1950 feet and it is 5 by 6 miles across.