Crater Lake Is the Deepest Lake in the United States
Crater Lake in Oregon is the deepest lake in the United States, at 1,943 feet (592 meters).
Crater Lake. The National Park Service says it is the deepest lake in the United States, at 1,943 feet (592 meters), and one of the ten deepest in the world.
Explanation
The deepest lake in the United States sits inside a collapsed volcano. The U.S. National Park Service states that Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States and one of the top ten deepest in the world, with a depth of 1,943 feet, or 592 meters. The basin formed about 7,700 years ago, when a massive eruption caused the central portion of Mount Mazama to collapse inward. Before the collapse the mountain stood about 12,000 feet tall. Over several hundred years, rain and snow partially filled the caldera. According to the Park Service, evaporation and seepage keep the lake from filling beyond its present depth. The lake is widely known for its rich blue color and extreme clarity, and it holds about 4.9 trillion gallons of water.
Source and verification
- Source
- U.S. National Park Service Tier A
- Last verified
- Confidence
- 95 out of 100
- Verified by
- Ali Ahmad Chaudhry