Transcript Crater Lake - roberts0910

Crater Lake National Park
By: Grayson W.
Why was Crater Lake A National
Park?
Crater Lake was established and became officially a national park on May
22nd 1902. Crater Lake became a National Park because the lake has many
records. It has the record of being the deepest lake in a America, and the 7th
deepest lake in the world. Another reason why it is a national park because
it’s starting was a volcano that collapsed and turned into a lake.
The Beginning of Crater Lake
Mount Mazama began growing around half a million years ago.
About 8,000 years ago Mount Mazama stood at 12,000 feet. Mount
Mazama’s biggest volcanic eruption was around 7,700 years ago. A
column of hot gas and lava was ejected into the air. In all 12 cubic
miles of material poured out of the volcano, in result emptied the
magma chamber beneath the mountain. As underlying support for
the mountain was lost, the volcano started to go inward, creating a
large basin. Mount Mazama became a huge and deep lake that is
now called Crater Lake.
Rocks
Because of the volcanic eruption, the volcano
created three types of rocks. They were
Andesite, Dacite, and Rhyodacite. Andesite is
volcanic rock, of intermediate composition with a
great texture. Dacite is an igneous, volcanic
rock. Dacite can be in many colors like grey, red,
tan, and black. Rhyodacite is a very thick rock
that can come in many shapes and sizes.
Landforms and Special
Features of Crater Lake
Crater Lake national park has over 180,000 acres of
which only 11,500 acres are taken up by the lake. The
remaining 93% is land, most of it backcountry. Crater
Lake has many landforms. In fact, Crater Lake is
surrounded by mountains. There is an island in the
middle of the lake. It is called Wizard Island. Wizard
Island’s elevation is 6,940 feet. Crater Lake rarely
freezes over completely. In fact, Crater Lake last froze
over in 1949.
Environmental Issues
Crater Lake National Park is considered pristine. However, like other national parks,
Crater Lake faces environmental issues. Human activities like;
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road and facilities development,
timber harvest,
camping,
cause long lasting problems the soil, plants, water, air and other wildlife.
Some other specific known issues are beetle infestations and climate change.
Mountain pine beetles are an issue because they have been known for wiping out
thousands of acres of lodgepole pines. Climate change is another known issue to
Crater Lake because the warmer temperatures make it easier for insects to attack the
White Bark Pine and this will affect everything that relies on the White Bark Pine.
Crater Lake Changing
Because of past and present volcanic activity, minor eruptions,
earthquakes, heavy rain showers, and forest fires, Crater Lake
National Park is always changing. The landscape is affected as a
result. There are landslides, rock slides, mudslides, floods and
erosion, and sinkholes.
In general, Crater Lake has been protected from human-activity.
However, there has been a problem with introducing new fish to the
lake. This has and will change the food chain and balance of life in
the lake.
Desert Ridge, Crater Lake
Technology Used To Maintain
The Park
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Technology has helped by educating many more students and people on
Crater Lake by providing information through email and websites. Websites
have helped raise funds for preserving Crater Lake.
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Air and water quality, and wildlife data can be recorded and monitored with
the help of technology such as LASAR database.
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U.S. geologists and the National Park Service (NPS) continue studying
Crater Lake to take measurements looking for volcanic activity. This is done
with the help of technology.
Crater Lake
Maintenance Center
Maps Of Crater Lake
Maps of Crater Lake: