National Parks
Portfolio

Cover

Contents

Foreword

Parks vs Monuments

Acadia

Bryce Canyon

Carlsbad Caverns

Crater Lake

General Grant

Glacier

Grand Canyon

Grand Teton

Hawaii

Hot Springs

Lassen Volcanic

Mesa Verde

Mount McKinley

Mount Rainier

Platt

Rocky Mountain

Seqoia

Wind Cave

Yellowstone

Yosemite

Zion

Monuments

National Parks Portfolio

Crater Lake

SUNSET
Photograph by Fred H. Kiser, Portland, Oreg.

THE LEGEND OF LLAO

ACCORDING to the legend of the Klamath and Modoc Indians the mystic land of Gaywas was the home of the great god Llao. His throne in the infinite depths of the blue waters was surrounded by his warriors, giant crawfish able to lift great claws out of the water and seize too venturesome enemies on the cliff tops.

War broke out with Skell, the god of the neighboring Klamath Marshes. Skell was killed and his heart used for a ball by Llao's monsters. But an eagle, one of Skell's servants, captured it in flight, and escaped with it; and Skell's body grew again around his living heart. Once more he was powerful, and once more he waged war against the God of the Lake.

Then Llao was captured; but he was not so fortunate. Upon the highest cliff his body was torn into fragments and cast into the lake, and eaten by his own monsters under the belief that it was Skell's body. But when Llao's head was thrown in, the monsters recognized it, and would not eat it.

Llao's head still lies in the lake, and white men call it Wizard Island. And the cliff where Llao was torn to pieces is named Llao Rock.

OFTEN THE TREES ARE AS GNARLED AND KNOTTED AS THE CLIFFS THEY GROW ON
Photograph by Fred H. Kiser, Portland, Oreg.

Continued >>>

Last Modified: Mon, Oct 31, 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
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