North West
| Oregon | ||
|
O r e g o n |
Crater Lake National Park
Crater Lake is a blue jewel- a secret treasure- hidden from mankind by jealous
gods atop a mountain. Crater Lake was formed when an ancient volcano, Mt.
Mazama, collapsed back into the earth after a shattering eruption. The
crater rim walls are the outlying slopes that were left behind as the center
of the mountain sank out of sight. Rain water, and snow melt have filled
this volcanic caldera, forming one of the deepest lakes in the world. Peaks
atop the rim soar up to 2,000 feet above the water line, and the lake bottom
lake drops another 2,000 feet at its maximum depth. The lake is perched
6,000 feet up in the Cascade Mountain Range in Southern Oregon. For more
photos, and information go to the Crater
Lake Page.
Other Oregon Links: The New Oregon Trail: Oregon Scenes
|
|
| Idaho | ||
|
I d a h o |
Craters of the Moon National Monument
A hot spot in the crust of the earth where the molten interior erupted, and
oozed onto the surface- between 15,000 and 2,000 years ago. "Craters
of the Moon" is a barren area of lava flows, cinder cones (mini volcanoes),
and volcanic tubes. The dry air sucks the moisture from you. When it does
rain the water is quickly siphoned away through the loose volcanic soil.
Historically uninhabited, and unused except for hunting, and trapping.
It was called "Craters of the Moon" because, it was imagined
that this is what the moon must look like. "Craters" is in southern
Idaho, roughly between Boise, and Idaho falls. It makes a good side trip
if you are visiting Yosemite. For more photos, and information go
to the Craters of the Moon Page
|
|
| Washington | ||
|
W a s h i n g t o n |
Mt. Rainier National Park
For more photos, go to the
Mt. Rainier
Page
|
|
Mt. St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
On the morning of May 18th, 1980, Mt. St. Helens- a 9,600 foot volcanic
mountain in Washington State- exploded. It had been quiet for 123 years.
At 9,600 feet it was not the tallest mountain in the Pacific Northwest-
but its symmetrical cone shape, and cloak of snow made it one of the most
beautiful. Today the broken shell of the mountian, and the blasted
moonscape surronding it makes this one of the most unique, and fascinating
National Parks.
For more photos, and information go to the
Mt. St. Helens
Page
|
||
Olympic National Park
For more photos, go to the
Olympic
Page
|
||
