We are in Crescent, OR. If you are following along, with map in hand, you will find Crescent along US97 about 50 miles south of Bend. Wow did it get cold here last night, 32F. We now pack an electric blanket and we used it last night. It was 51 in the trailer this morning even with our little heater going on low. But we woke to sun and nearly clear sky.
Our journey today took us up the road to Newberry Volcanic National Monument. this area of Oregon had a bunch of volcanoes blasting away about 7-8000 years ago. Crater Lake was one and the area in Newberry had a bunch. The one we are going to see is younger than Mt. Mazama and Crater Lake. Originally it was a single blast forming a crater about the size of Crater Lake, but when it erupted again about a thousand years ago, it formed two smaller lakes.
They are only about 250 ft deep. In the first picture you can see the two lakes with the land mass created by the most recent eruption in the center.
The lakes are named Paulina Lake and East Lake. The caldera is not as high so there is access to the lakes. Note in this picture a grey mass in the lower right. That is an obsidian flow area. The following picture gives a better view.
That area was formed by molten lava. Pretty cool, eh? We have only seen this type of thing at Haleakala in Hawaii. Here they permit access to this flow area so we have some close-up shots of the rocks.
If you are into gemstones you will know how rare and costly obsidian is. It was here in huge sizes, by the truckload. But, it is protected, take some and there is a $500 fine & 90 days in jail. A volcano produces several types of rocks depending on the geological composition, temperatures, etc. Besides obsidian, which is basically glass with magnetite, there is pumice, cinder, and basalt. The pumice was lava that was full of air when it cooled, so it is light. So no, Lynn has not been lifting weights!
Unlike Crater Lake, Paulina Lake has an outfall in the form of a waterfall. As you can see in the next picture. Lynn took this hanging like a monkey on the side of a cliff. Geez, they construct overlooks with barriers, but no, she has to go get both falls. So appreciate the effort on this one.
Tomorrow we plan to go back up in this area to Lava Land, should be pretty interesting.
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