Crater Lake National Park, Oregon:  26 June 2006

Though the whole southern half of Rim Drive was closed due to lingering snow (571" last winter -- that's 48 FEET) and winter damage, the ideal

70-degree weather produced dazzling photos of this 6-mile wide volcanic caldera that is the 2nd deepest lake in the USA, with a maximum depth

of 1943 feet.  It is all snow melt and rain, as there are no inflow or outflow channels.  It is pure and clean, and oh-so-bluuuuuuuuuuue.  [46 photos]