Pumice Desert Viewpoint - Oregon
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 43° 01.678 W 122° 07.166
10T E 571741 N 4764296
Quick Description: Viewpoint on the south edge of the Pumice Desert along the North Entrance Road in Crater Lake National Park.
Location: Oregon, United States
Date Posted: 11/7/2009 10:15:28 PM
Waymark Code: WM7M66
Views: 0
Long Description:
Viewpoint on North Entrance Road. There is an interpretive sign
titled Pumice Desert at the viewpoint.
Sign Text: The pumice deposits you are now standing on are
the product of Mt. Mazama, an explosive volcano that collapsed to
form the Crater Lake caldera. Mazama stood about 6 miles (9.7 km)
south of here (to your left).
About 7,700 years ago Mt. Mazama erupted torrents of seething,
red-hot pumice and other volcanic rocks. These glowing avalanches
raced down the slopes and flooded the valley that lay here with
deposits over 100 feet (30 m) deep.
Even after thousands of years, few trees have become established on
the Pumice Desert. There is ample water under the surface, but
deficiencies in the soil limit plant growth. Many more years will
pass before the surrounding lodgepole pines transform the desert to
a forest.