The Legend of Crater Lake's Formation: - Klamath Tribe

The Legend of Crater Lake’s Formation
Introduction
Crater Lake, in Oregon, is the country's deepest lake, developed over thousands of years by
a series of volcanic eruptions. We were only able to map the bottom of the lake and
comprehend how it was produced owing to the relatively recent discovery of sonar. Local
Native American tribes, on the other hand, have known for generations and have included
stories of volcanic eruptions in their myths, describing great spirits that darkened the skies,
collapsed a mountain, and spewed fire.
Details Of Crater Lake

With a maximum depth of 549 metres, Crater Lake is the deepest lake in the United States
(1,949 ft). The geological structures in and around the lake tell the narrative of a volatile
volcanic history, and scientists have discovered that the lake bed has risen and fallen several
times.
Myths Related to Crater Lakes Formation

Because of the oral nature of their storytelling traditions, we don't truly know how long the
myths of the local Native American tribes have been passed down from generation to
generation. Crater Lake and the formation of both the lake and the island in the middle,
now known as Wizard Island, are the focus of several legends.
• Klamath tribe:
▪ According to one Klamath tribe myth, there was once a great battle within their
people. The besieging group prayed to the Great Spirit for assistance as one side laid
siege to the other. Aid arrived, beginning with tremors deep within the Earth. The
mountain's peak shattered and fell into the Earth, swallowing those who had started
the rebellion. When the tremors finally stopped, the warriors discovered that the
Earth's rupture had caused a lake to form where there had previously been none,
and the spirits of the dead had been transformed into sea creatures.
• Fight Between the God of Underworld and Upperworld:

Another version of the narrative makes a more direct reference to the volcanic
activity that caused the lake to originate, as we now know.
▪ Llao, the god of the Underworld, and Skell, the god of the Upperworld, were both
smitten by the same girl. Their fight for her hand resulted in the destruction of the
mountain La-o Yaina. The mountain was the first to start smoking, with fires
threatening to consume the area. Three religious men gave their lives to put out the
fires, and Snaith, who controlled the seas and storms, was tasked by Skell with filling
the catastrophic hole that their fighting had created.
“The heart of Skell was tossed from hand to hand in the great ball game in which all
participated.” —Klamath legend of La-o
• Feud between Ground and Sky:
Another version of the story includes a cautionary note about why any daring spirits
should avoid the lake.
▪ It's told that during a tremendous struggle between the ground and the sky, the
mountain trembled, fire poured from the mountain's mouth, and fiery rocks and
debris dropped from the sky, igniting fires for miles around. Those who lived around
the lake, which was then known as Klamath Lake, begged the spirits to stop feuding,
and two of their most holy men were sacrificed. The spirits were appeased, and
storms blew in, putting out the fires and filling the lake. They passed down the
legend from generation to generation, warning everyone to keep away from the lake
should the spirits become enraged once more.
The Science Behind the Formation of Craters Lake

The legends of mountains falling and flames raining from the sky are part of a 420,000-year
history of volcanic activity. The initial volcanoes were located to the east of what is now
Crater Lake, and they were extinct for thousands of years before being replaced by others.
Mount Mazama is a relatively young 30,000-year-old volcano that produced Crater Lake.
The mountain progressively built up lava and pressure over the ages until it erupted 7,700
years ago.
The ash and pumice from the eruption blanketed most of the Pacific Northwest and
southern Canada. The mountain did, in fact, fall in on itself, weakened by the massive
amount of magma that had built up over time. When the tremors ended, what had been a
mountain had become a mile-deep hole.
Storms arrived and filled the new crater, known as a caldera, just like in the tales. Scientists
believe the volcano may erupt again, possibly with catastrophic results, similar to the legend
that warns humans that angering the spirits would force them to fight battle again.
References
THE Dawn - Myths & mysteries: The Crater Lake happenings
Myth Of The Creation Of Crater Lake

The Legend of Crater Lake's Formation: - Klamath Tribe

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The Legend of Crater Lake's Formation: - Klamath Tribe

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The Legend of Crater Lake’s Formation

Details Of Crater Lake

Myths Related to Crater Lakes Formation

• Fight Between the God of Underworld and Upperworld:

• Feud between Ground and Sky:

The Science Behind the Formation of Craters Lake

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