Explore the dramatic volcanic origins of Crater Lake, from the towering Mount Mazama to the fiery birth of the caldera and its unique features.
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Born from Collapse, Filled by Centuries
This series, Tales of a Fiery Mountain, traces the volcanic forces that built, destroyed, and reshaped the landscape of Crater Lake National Park.
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1
Mount Mazama Before the Collapse
Mount Mazama once towered nearly twelve thousand feet above southern Oregon — one of the highest peaks in the Cascades and roughly the same stature as Mount Hood today.
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2
When the Mountain Fell Into Itself
The eruption that destroyed Mount Mazama released an estimated forty-two times the energy of the 1980 Mount St. Helens blast.
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3
The Volcano Rising From the Lake
Wizard Island stands about 760 feet above the lake surface, but its full height from the caldera floor measures closer to 2,700 feet — making it a substantial volcanic…
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4
Ghost Ships and Towers of Steam
Phantom Ship island is only about 160 feet tall, but it's made of rock roughly 400,000 years old — the oldest exposed material anywhere in the caldera.
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