Little Crater Lake facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Little Crater Lake
Little Crater Lake Location in Oregon Show map of Oregon Little Crater Lake Location in the United States Show map of the United States
Location	Mount Hood National Forest, Clackamas County, Oregon, U.S.
Coordinates	45°08′52″N 121°44′52″W / 45.1478°N 121.7477°W / 45.1478; -121.7477
Primary inflows	Cold spring
Max. width	100 feet (30 m)
Max. depth	45 feet (14 m)

Little Crater Lake is a spring-fed lake in the Mount Hood National Forest in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is named after Crater Lake, also in Oregon.

Geology

Little Crater Lake is considered an oddity, with earlier geologists theorizing it formed from a collapsed lava tube because of its steep and overhanging walls. Later geologists believe it originated from a volcanic maar or was created from block faulting. Artesian water from an underground spring fills the resulting depression with water. The lake was named after Crater Lake, also in Oregon, due to their shared blue waters. The water in Little Crater Lake is a constant 34 °F (1.1 °C).