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Looking at the Average Depths of Crater Lake
By Dr. Owen Hoffman
Over time, snowmelt and rain collected in the crater to form the lake, which at 1949 feet deep, is presently the deepest in the USA, 2nd in North America, and 9th in the world. Based on a comparison of average depths, however, Crater Lake at 1148 feet, is the deepest in the Western Hemisphere and third deepest in the world.
On average, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in North American and third in the world.
The 50 meter for water transparency of Lake Baikal is a likely gross exaggeration. The deepest secchi disk reading at Crater Lake in Oregon is a little over 40 meters, and that estimate was determined using an oversized device.
Lake Baikal is the largest and deepest of the world’s lakes. It’s also the oldest geologically. The fact that Lake Baikal has an endemic population of fresh water seals is new news for me, and this fact is indeed fascinating.
However, based on a comparison of average depths, Crater Lake is on average the deepest lake in the world, among all lakes whose basins are above sea level. Lake Baikal and Lake Tanganyika are far deeper than Crater Lake on all counts, comparing either maximum depths or average depths, but both have basins that are below sea level.
At least a thousand years to fill: may have taken 200 years for the caldera floor to cool sufficiently to hold water; so, between 1000 & 1500 yrs. So, the lake was nearly full as recently as 6000 to 6500 years ago. oldest water in the Lake estimated to be approximately 1500 years old ! (remember, Xerothermic climate was warmer, dryer during this episode).
“One of the biggest needs to be answered is: how long did it take to fill the Lake and how long has it been in its present condition and elevation.”
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