Not this one
We created a virtual tour of important landmarks in the Pacific Northwest.
Route map
Starting in the Cascade Region of Oregon we see two different Stratovolcanoes. First being Neskowin's eerie Ghost forest which is along the coast of Oregon. We travel East heading towards the Cascades of Oregon and see multiple Stratovolcanoes. First, one of the three sister volcanoes, The South Sister. Moving South we next see "Broken Top", Another Stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. Moving southeast we next look at the Newberry Volcano. Finishing our trip at the iconic Crater Lake, South of the Newberry Volcano.
Neskowin Ghost Forest
Located on the Oregon Coast
The name of the site:
The Neskowin name is of Indian origin meaning "plenty of fish" and it is one of the oldest beach towns on the coast. The area was also known as Slab Creek.
The Location Of the Site
The Neskowin Ghost Forest is located just an hour's drive west of Salem and located along Oregon's Tillamook coast. The Neskowin Ghost Forest is at 45.0956° N, 123.9887° W.
Geological Features
The Sitka spruce forest was turned into a ghost forest due to an earthquake in the Cascadia Subduction zone and then was covered by debris from a tsunami or mud from a landslide. With the earthquake in the Cascadia zone, the coastline drops several meters below sea level which does cause it to be much easier for the trees to become covered. The harsh waves and debris helped to break off the tops of the trees creating the dead stumps we see today.
History of the site
In 1997-1998 a series of storms hit the Neskowin shoreline and unearthed the ghost forest you see today. The trees are said to have been over 2,000 years old having been buried sometime in the 1700s. The Sitka trees were said to have stood between 150-200 feet tall before their demise. The beauty of this ghost forest is that it is still relatively new as it was only just fully unearthed a few decades ago. Before this discovery, the forest was known as a local legend to those who were lucky enough to see the very tops of the stumps during a storm before they would be buried again.
Importance of the site
The Neskowin Ghost forest shows a look into the past and the incredible beauty of nature. It is not a far walk to reach the forest and it is best said to look during low tide so you can clearly see the hundreds of stumps along with a few other unique spots located along the beach. Some of the stumps have been eroded away on the tops creating shallow pools within when the tide is out. You are able to see small crabs and even some fish swimming about.
Dangers of the site
While there are no real dangers to visiting the Neskowin Ghost forest it is just best to always be wary of the tides, especially if you plan to walk out further to see the stumps more up close.
Fun Facts
Right next to the to Neskowin Ghost forest is another famous site called Proposal Rock. named for the turn of the century marriage proposal of Charles Gage to Della Page. Proposal Rock is an island just at the edge of the ocean. When the tide is completely out, you can reach the island and climb a short trail to the top, but there is no guardrail so one must be cautious.
Sources:
https://traveloregon.com/things-to-do/trip-ideas/neskowin-ghost-forest/
https://www.co.tillamook.or.us/publicworks/page/city-community-and-road-name-origins
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neskowin_Ghost_Forest#/media/File:Neskowin_Stumps_at_Proposal_Rock.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghost_forest
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/ghost-forest.html
The South Sister
Volcano along the Cascades of Oregon
The name of the site:
The South Sister is one out of three volcanic peaks on the Cascade arc of Oregon called the Three Sisters. There is no known origin of the names of the sisters. To Pioneers as well as others the Sisters are known as Mt. Hope, Mt. Faith and Mt. Charity. The South sister was Charity.
Topographic Map Of the South Sister
The location of the site-
The three sisters are located just west of Bend, Oregon. They go for 20 miles along the Cascade range of oregon. The south sister is located at 44.1034° N, 121.7692° W.
Type of geological feature-
This region is very high in volcanic activity. The three volcanoes are amongst over twenty large volcanoes in the cascades. The cascades are in the Cascadia Subduction zone, which is on a dip-slip fault. Meaning the faults hanging wall is moving down away from the footwall. Many of the volcanoes are still active today including the South sister, the North and Middle sister have not erupted in longer than 14,000 years and are presumably dormant volcanoes. The three sisters are stratovolcanoes. The South sister is the tallest out of the three peaks, standing at 10,363 ft.
A summarized geological history of the site-
Created over 100,000 years ago. The three sisters have different compositions, telling us that the three volcanoes were formed at different times and deposited different types of magma, creating different lava flows. The South sister and the middle sister were seemingly growing at the same time. When they erupted, the South Sister erupted rhyolite and dacite. The Middle Sister deposited andesite and dacite. These are granitic rocks which are different from the lava erupted from the North Sister which was basaltic lava flow.
Moraine Lake
Why this site is important-
The South Sister lays upon a beautiful cascade region. The hike of the south sister is a long journey and requires skill to accomplish. The site is only open from August to October and can be very dangerous due to snow and ice during the colder/rainier months. This Volcano is particularly cool because of its high mountain lake, Moraine Lake.
Hazards related to the site-
Teardrop Lake
The three sisters have not erupted for a very long time making them not very hazordus for people to visit them. However as of last year scientists have obtained new technology to deeper examine the volcanoes. They claim to have found new seismic activity related to the Three Sisters. Small earthquakes have been observed below the volcanoes, meaning that there is magma flow underneath the volcanoes. The ground is moving up faster and at more drastic proportions. Causing scientists to keep a close eye on the activity of the volcanoes that have not erupted in many decades. However if the volcanoes were close to eruption we would have seen larger earthquakes, and more breakage underneath the volcanoes. This means that there is no immediate hazard of the volcanoes.
View of the South Sister
Fun facts-
- The South Sister is the third tallest mountain in Oregon
- Along the trail there is gorgeous purple wildflowers
- On The South Sister has a summit crater called the "Teardrop Pool" Which is the lake with the highest elevation in Oregon
The Three Sisters, Charity, Hope, Faith
Graph of uplift of the Sisters
Map of The Three Sisters
Sources-
Newberry Volcano
Stratovolcano Located in the Cascade Range (Aidan Rieder)
Name of the Site:
The Newberry Volcano was named by Dr. John Strong Newberry in 1855. Newberry was an avid explorer who explored the cascades in the mid-19th century. The volcano is believed to have been inhabited by Native American tribes for nearly 10,000 years; sadly their tribe names have been lost. We may never know the true name of the mountain.
Location of the Site:
Newberry Volcano is approximately 20 miles south of Bend and 35 miles east of the major cascade crest. The coordinates of this volcano are 43.7220653°N, -121.2344654°W.
Geological Features:
Newberry is unique in that it has erupted with several types of lava. These include andesitic, rhyolitic, and basaltic lava flows with the potential for lahars and pyroclastic flows. Newberry also boasts a large caldera that is 4 miles in diameter. This caldera contains two lakes, Paulina Lake and East Lake, with space in between to hike and overlook the water which reaches depths of up to 250 feet. It is believed this volcano formed from the subduction of the Juan de Fuca and Gorda tectonic plates.
History of Newberry:
Newberry is an open shield stratovolcano that was formed nearly 600,000 years ago and has been formed by several thousand eruptions. The last recorded eruption was 80,000 years ago but this volcano is still deemed active. Just because it has not erupted (recently), however, does not mean the volcano is still active in other ways. 3,500 years ago East Lake (which is contained in the Caldera) had a fissure eruption and caused lava flows which were the last recorded activity on record.
Importance of the sight:
Newberry holds the keen eye of scientists and tourists alike because of its massive size and volatile history. While being the size of Rhode Island it has made a name for itself as one of the most active volcanoes in the Cascade Range. This is impressive considering the density of volcanoes in this region meaning the competition is high. This volcanic area also boasts a high level of biodiversity thanks to its area and two lakes.
Dangers of the Sight:
Newberry is still very much a threat due to its active state. This combined with increased earthquake activity in the Cascades has left many to wonder if a larger earthquake could trigger a series of eruptions from several of the volcanos in the area, including Newberry. Even if an eruption is not in the near future, there is a real chance that one of the many vents in and around the mountain could cause lava flows to emerge around the base and within the lakes held in the Caldera. This has led to a close watch on the activity of the mountain and the 250,000 yearly visitors it regularly receives.
Fun Facts about Newberry:
While Newberry possesses some of the highest volcanic activity in the Cascades, it also receives some of the most rainfall each year at 17.9 inches. This allows it to contain some of the deepest volcanic lakes in all of Oregon. It also receives record numbers of visitors each year at approximately 250,000 visitors.
Sources:
Jensen, Robert, et al. Field Guides.
“Newberry | U.S. Geological Survey.” Www.usgs.gov, www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/newberry.
“Newberry Volcano.” Earthobservatory.nasa.gov, 20 Dec. 2020, earthobservatory.nasa.gov/images/147700/newberry-volcano. Accessed 3 Dec. 2022.
“Deschutes National Forest - Newberry National Volcanic Monument - Deschutes NF.” Usda.gov, 2021, www.fs.usda.gov/recarea/deschutes/recarea/?recid=66159.
“Newberry.” Volcano World, 26 July 2011, volcano.oregonstate.edu/newberry. Accessed 3 Dec. 2022.
“Newberry Volcano.” The Northwest Journal, www.thenorthwestjournal.com/newberry-volcano/. Accessed 3 Dec. 2022.
Kelly-Detwiler, Peter. “The Newberry Volcano Enhanced Geothermal Project: The Most Important Power Plant in the Country?” Forbes, www.forbes.com/sites/peterdetwiler/2014/11/06/the-newberry-volcano-enhanced-geothermal-project-the-most-important-power-plant-in-the-country/?sh=657172c25d22. Accessed 3 Dec. 2022.
Broken Top
Volcano in the Cascade region of Oregon
Location of the site:
View of Broken Top
Name of the site:
Broken top is named for its eroded cone, which disappeared long ago due to glacier erosion. There is no information on any Native American names for this volcano, however due to its age there is most likely one that has been lost over time.
Type of geological feature:
Broken top is what is known as a stratovolcano. The volcano was built by magma chambers that were the result of the subduction of the Juan de Fuca tectonic plate under the North American tectonic plate. This activity has caused many of the volcanos in the Cascade Range. Broken top is a basaltic-andesite stratovolcano. The eruptions that occurred were composed of andesite, dacite, and rhyolite. The two glaciers located on Broken Top, Bend and Crook glaciers, continue to erode the inside contents of the volcano, which gives it its well-known shape.
Broken top is located west of Bend, Oregon in the Cascade Volcanic Arc. It is directly southeast of the south sister, which is the southmost mountain belonging to the three sisters. The exact location is 44.08°N and 121.7°W.
View of Broken Top from Broken Top Trail.
Geological history of the site:
Broken Top is a long-extinct volcano with its most recent eruption being in the Pleistocene epoch, over 150,000 years ago. It was believed to be formed 300,000 years ago and had sporadic eruptions for 150,000 years. These eruptions consisted of silicic lava. The long exposure to the lava flow and glacial erosion created the south cirque, or amphitheater-shaped opening, in the side of the volcano.
Sunset view of Broken Top
Map showing the different volcanos in the Three Sisters Wilderness
Importance of the site:
The Three Sisters Wilderness, which Broken Top belongs to, is a geologically significant area home to many volcanos, some of which are still potentially active. This area is one of the most densely packed volcanic areas in the Cascades. Broken top offers people the ability to explore one of the most notorious volcanos in the pacific northwest with a hike into the south cirque.
Dangers of the site:
Broken Top during wildflower season
Broken top is a relatively safe area to explore ancient volcanic activity. There is no risk of eruption, as Broken Top has been extinct for a very long time and there has been no indication of any volcanic activity. There is evidence of some ancient radiocarbon in ancient materials, however, these do not pose a huge risk.
Fun facts:
View of Broken Tops hidden lake called No Name Lake
Broken Top is home to one of Oregon’s most famous lakes, named No Name Lake. The hike to get there is relatively strenuous, but hundreds of people complete this hike every year. The lake is usually frozen over until late June. This lake is accessible using Broken Top trail.
Topographic map showing Broken Top and a trail to get to the crater.
Map showing volcanic activity
Sources:
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/three-sisters/eruption-history-broken-top
https://volcano.si.edu/volcano.cfm?vn=322811
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0377027311001594?via%3Dihub
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Broken_Top#CITEREFJoslin2005
https://uprootedtraveler.com/blog/broken-top-hike
https://www.oregonhikers.org/field_guide/Broken_Top_East_Cirque_Hike
https://www.anyplaceamerica.com/directory/or/deschutes-county-41017/summits/broken-top-1138649/
https://www.usgs.gov/volcanoes/three-sisters/hazards
https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/oregon/broken-top-crater-hike
Crater Lake
Lake on top of Mount Mazama in the Cascade Region
View of Crater Lake
Name of the site: In 1869, James Sutton, a newspaper editor, explored the lake and published the name as “Crater Lake”. Crater Lake already had two names; Blue Lake, named by the leader of a party of Oregon prospectors, and Lake Majesty named by Captain F.B Sprague. Native Americans named Mount Mazama Moyaina, meaning “big mountain”.
The location of the site: Crater Lake is on top of Mount Mazama, which is in south-central Oregon. The address is 101 Rim Dr, Chemult OR, 97731 and GPS location is 42.924480N 122.161530W.
Type of geological feature: Crater Lake is a lake that partially fills crater lake caldera, which formed when Mount Mazama erupted.
Geological history of the site: Mount Mazama was destroyed during an eruption 7,700 years ago. The initial phase started as a Plinian eruption, shooting a column of rock and ash 30 miles high from a single vent in the northeast side of Mount Mazama. There was a massive amount of ejected magma which allowed the vent of the volcano to widen and begin to collapse in on itself. As the summit collapsed, circular cracks opened up around the peak. More magma erupted through the cracks and sent pyroclastic flows down the north and east flanks. Deposits from the flows part ideally filled the valleys around Mount Mazama with up to 300 feet of pumice and ash. The collapse revealed a volcanic depression, called a caldera, 5 miles in diameter and one mile deep. Over the years, the caldera filled with rain and snow, creating Crater Lake.
Mount Mazama eruption
Topographic map of Wizard Island
Map of Crater Lake's hazard zones
Why this site is fascinating: Crater Lake is famous for its deep blue color. The lake is also one of the clearest, cleanest lakes in the world. The lake was filled only from rain and snow meaning there aren’t any pollutants or sediments in the water. It's the deepest lake in the United States, and seventh in the world. Also, there are islands that rise out of the lake. Wizard island is the largest one, rising over 750 feet above the surface. It’s a volcanic cinder cone formed by eruptions from new vents, meaning it’s a volcano inside a volcano. Visitors can take a boat to the island and even hike to the summit.
Hazards related to the site: Volcano hazards at Crater Lake fall into two categories. One is eruptions within the caldera and the reawakening of the Mazama volcanic system. Another is eruptions from new vents on the flanks or in surrounding regions. Earthquakes are another possibility because a north-south active fault zone travels through the west half of Crater Lake National Park.
Interesting Fact: Crater Lake is sacred to most Native Americans of Oregon and Northern California. Makalaks, now Klamath Indians, held the belief that this place is so holy that looking upon it would lead to death.
Sources
