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The deepest lake in the U.S. is Crater Lake, which is located in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It's nearly 2,148 foot (655 m).

Crater Lake

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For other uses, see Crater Lake (disambiguation).

Crater Lake

Aerial view; note Wizard Island against the western rim

Bathymetric survey
Location Klamath County, Oregon
Coordinates 42°56′37″N 122°06′24″WCoordinates: 42°56′37″N 122°06′24″W
Lake type crater lake
Primary inflows precipitation and snowmelt only
Primary outflows evaporation and subsurface seepage only
Catchment area 23.3 sq mi (60 km2)
Basin countries United States

Max. length 6 mi (9.7 km)
Max. width 5 mi (8.0 km)
Surface area 20.6 sq mi (53 km2)
Average depth 1,148 ft (350 m)
Max. depth 1,949 ft (594 m)
Water volume 4.49 cu mi (18.7 km3)
Residence time 157 years
Shore length1 21.8 mi (35.1 km)
Surface elevation 6,178 ft (1,883 m)

Islands Wizard Island
Phantom Ship
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Crater Lake is a caldera lake located in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly 2,148-foot (655 m) deep caldera[1] that was formed around 7,700 (± 150) years ago[2] by the collapse of the volcano Mount Mazama. There are no rivers flowing into or out of the lake; the evaporation is compensated for by rain and snowfall at a rate such that the total amount of water is replaced every 250 years.

On June 12, 1853, John Wesley Hillman was reportedly the first person of European descent to see what he named "Deep Blue Lake" in Oregon. The lake was renamed at least three times, as Blue Lake, Lake Majesty, and finally Crater Lake.[3][4]

Crater Lake is known for the "Old Man of the Lake", a full-sized tree which is now a stump that has been bobbing vertically in the lake for more than a century.[5] The low temperature of the water has slowed the decomposition of the wood, hence the longevity of the bobbing tree.

While having no indigenous fish population, the lake was stocked from 1888 to 1941 with a variety of fish. Several species have formed self sustaining populations.[6] Since 2002, one of the state's regular-issue license plate designs has featured Crater Lake.[7] The commemorative Oregon State Quarter, which was released by the United States Mint in 2005, features an image of Crater Lake on its reverse.[8]