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Crater Lake
THE MINE OF BEAUTY
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CRATER LAKE is seen in its glory from a launch. One may float for days upon its surface without sating one's sense of delighted surprise; for all is new again with every change of light. The Phantom Ship, for instance, sometimes wholly disappears. Now it is there, and a few minutes after, with new slants of light, it is gone—a phantom indeed. So it is with many head lands and ghostlike palisades. This lake was not discovered until 1853. Eleven Californians had undertaken once more the search for the famous, perhaps fabulous, Lost Cabin Mine. For many years parties had been searching the Cascades; again they had come into the Rogue River region. With all their secrecy their object became known, and a party of Oregonians was hastily organized to stalk them and share their find. The Californians discovered the pursuit and divided their party. The Oregonians did the same. It be came a game of hide-and-seek. When provisions were nearly exhausted all the parties joined forces. "Suddenly we came in sight of water," writes J. W. Hiliman, then the leader of the combined party; "we were much surprised, as we did not expect to see any lakes and did not know but that we had come in sight of and close to Klamath Lake. Not until my mule stopped within a few feet of the rim of Crater Lake did I look down, and if I had been riding a blind mule I firmly believe I would have ridden over the edge to death." It is interesting that the discoverers quarreled on the choice of a name, dividing between Mysterious Lake and Deep Blue Lake. The advocates of Deep Blue Lake won the vote, but in 1869 a visiting party from Jacksonville renamed it Crater Lake, and this, by natural right, became its title. |
THE FAVORITE WAY TO SEE THE SCULPTURED CLIFFS IS FROM A MOTOR BOAT
Photograph by Fred H. Kiser, Portland, Oreg.
HOTELS AND CAMPS
Crater Lake is accessible by both rail and highway. There are three excellent roads coming in the west, south, and east entrances. Comfortable hotel accommodations are available on the rim of the lake, and rental cabins, cafeteria, store, stage line, and boat service are also provided for the comfort of visitors. The Government maintains a free automobile camp ground for the visiting motorist.
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Last Modified: Mon, Oct 31, 2002 10:00:00 pm PDT
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