Caldera

A caldera is a large bowl-shaped crater that is formed by the collapse of a volcanic cone after an eruption.

After a huge ejection of lava there may be no magma left in the chamber to fill the conduit and crater. When this happens there is a hollow space under the summit of the mountain where the magma used to be. The top of the mountain then collapses creating a caldera.

The caldera may fill with water creating a lake. This is what happened at Crater Lake in Oregon. The ancient volcano Mount Mazama erupted violently about 6,000 years ago creating a caldera. The caldera slowly filled with snowmelt and rain forming beautiful Crater Lake. Another caldera forms most of the first national park of the United States, Yellowstone. The geysers and hot springs that make the park famous the world over are all volcanic in origin. In other words the park sits on top of an active volcano!!!!

Answer the following:

1  Give a brief description of a caldera

2  Give and example of a crater lake