🇺🇸 Crater Lake – A Deep Blue Wonder Amid Wildfire Haze 🌋🔵

This is Crater Lake in the summer of 2024. Unfortunately, our visit coincided with nearby wildfires, filling the sky with a light haze. Though the photos aren’t perfectly clear, the lake’s blue remained stunningly vibrant. Crater Lake is a caldera lake formed by a volcanic eruption thousands of years ago. The crater gradually filled with rain and snowmelt, creating one of the purest bodies of water in the world—fed entirely by precipitation. It’s also the deepest lake in the United States. We hiked the Cleetwood Cove Trail, which leads down to the shoreline. Though not very long, the trail is moderately challenging due to its steepness, with an elevation change of over 200 meters. At the water’s edge, the lake resembles a deep blue mirror—crystal clear and incredibly transparent. You can swim, take a boat tour 🚤, or simply enjoy a peaceful picnic by the shore. Also, Wizard Island at the center is part of a volcanic cinder cone and looks just like a stingray floating in the water! 🏝️🌊 #CraterLake #Oregon #VolcanicLake #NatureBeauty #ExploreTheOutdoors #HikingAdventure #UsaTravel #WildfireSeason #ClearWater #ScenicViews