Little Crater Lake is a spring-fed lake in the Mount Hood National Forest in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is named after Crater Lake, also in Oregon.

Little Crater Lake
Location of Little Crater Lake in Oregon, USA.
Location of Little Crater Lake in Oregon, USA.
Little Crater Lake
Location of Little Crater Lake in Oregon, USA.
Location of Little Crater Lake in Oregon, USA.
Little Crater Lake
LocationMount Hood National Forest, Clackamas County, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates45°08′52″N 121°44′52″W / 45.1478°N 121.7477°W / 45.1478; -121.7477
Primary inflowsCold spring
Max. width100 feet (30 m)[1]
Max. depth45 feet (14 m)

Geology edit

Little Crater Lake is considered an oddity, with earlier geologists theorizing it formed from a collapsed lava tube because of its steep and overhanging walls.[2] Later geologists believe it originated from a volcanic maar[3] or was created from block faulting.[4] Artesian water from an underground spring fills the resulting depression with water. The lake was named after Crater Lake, also in Oregon,[5] due to their shared blue waters.[6] The water in Little Crater Lake is a constant 33.3 °F (0.7222222°C).[1]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b Lyman, Jarrod (August 12, 2015). "Little Crater Lake: A hidden gem in Oregon's Mt. Hood Territory". Mt. Hood Territory Blog. Retrieved June 9, 2017.
  2. ^ Unknown (1946). "Deschutes Perlite Mine Trip". Geological Society News Letter. Vol. 12 October, no. 10. p. 91.
  3. ^ "Oregon Lakes and Their Origins" (PDF). Oregon Geology, Volume 46, Number 12, December 1984. p. 145. Retrieved August 5, 2017.
  4. ^ Mt. Hood National Forest: Final Environmental Impact Statement. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Region. 1990. p. 152.
  5. ^ "Little Crater Lake Trail #500". United States Department of Agriculture. Retrieved June 13, 2017.
  6. ^ Richard, Terry (September 17, 2009). "Little Crater Lake near Mount Hood is nearly as blue as its big brother in southern Oregon". The Oregonian. Retrieved June 9, 2017.

External links edit