Sacred Place: Crater Lake, Klamath County, Oregon

In 5677 BC, thousands of years ago give or take, a stratovolcano known as Mount Mazama turned itself inside out in a massive explosion.  Stratovolcanoes are one of the rarer, but more spectacular and dangerous kind because they literally explode and collapse, leaving a ruined caldera that creates beautiful mountain scenery.  Perhaps the ancestors of today Klamath people were on hand to witness the big event, but they have considered the resulting lake, Crater Lake, to be a spot of sacred significance ever since.

Located in Crater Lake National Park in what is now Klamath County, Oregon, there are no rivers leading into or out of the lake.  It is fed by rainwater and snow melt and drained by sun evaporation.  The result is a pristine lake that is 1,949 feet deep.  It's the deepest lake in the United States and 9th deepest in the world.  According to Klamath oral tradition, ages ago there was a battle between the forces of good and evil.  In the resulting battle, Mount Mazama was destroyed, creating Crater Lake, known as Giiwas in Klamath.  The Klamath use the lake in their vision quests and other sacred ceremonies. 

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