Waldo Lake
| Waldo Lake | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Location | Cascade Mountains, Lane County, Oregon, US |
| Coordinates | 43°43′48″N 122°02′32″W / 43.729918°N 122.0423006°WCoordinates: 43°43′48″N 122°02′32″W / 43.729918°N 122.0423006°W |
| Type | Alpine |
| Primary outflows | North Fork Middle Fork Willamette River |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 5.75 mi (9.25 km) |
| Max. width | 2.75 mi (4.43 km) |
| Surface area | > 10 sq mi (26 km2) |
| Average depth | mean: 128 ft (39 m) |
| Max. depth | 420 ft (130 m) |
| Water volume | 0.9537 km3 (0.2288 cu mi) |
| Residence time | 32 years |
| Surface elevation | 5,420 ft (1,650 m) |
Waldo Lake is a natural alpine lake in the Cascade Mountains of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the second largest natural non-alkali lake in Oregon with more than 10 square miles (26 km2) of water surface and a maximum depth of 420 feet (130 m). The lake is named after Oregon politician, judge, and conservationist John B. Waldo.
The lake is located in Lane County at an elevation of 5,414 feet (1,650 m) above sea level. Access is via Forest Service Road 5897 from Oregon Route 58 approximately 18 miles (29 km) east of Oakridge. The forest road travels 12 miles (19 km) to the lake.
The area was first inhabited by Native Americans, and the lake was later discovered by Molalla Indian Charlie Tufti. According to pioneer resident Frank S. Warner it was then named Pengra Lake after Byron J. Pengra, a pioneer railroad champion. Later the lake was named in honor of Judge John B. Waldo from the Oregon Supreme Court who helped push for preservation in the Cascades which began with the Cascade Forest Reserve established by President Cleveland in 1893. Waldo was the son of Daniel Waldo for whom the Waldo Hills are named.
The area was also used by sheep farmers for grazing prior to the establishment of recreation facilities by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression in 1939. Later facilities were built by the Forest Service in 1971.
In 1979 the lake received around 10,000 visitor days per year, and by 1989 that number increased to 32,000 per year. Between those years, in 1984, 37,000 acres (15,000 ha) to the north, west, and south were designated as the Waldo Lake Wilderness by the federal government. In 1996, a forest fire, the Charlton fire, swept by the lake and forced the evacuation of several campgrounds while burning much of the north side of the lake's surrounding forest.
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Wikipedia