Oregon

By Jamie Fischer

Another great state that many people may overlook is Oregon, a beautiful ocean state north of California. They’re home to many natural wonders that often go unnoticed, and with it I think I went a little overboard with all of the natural features that appear in this article that constitute Oregon. No matter, this is one state worth a visit. As beautiful as it is along the shore, the rocky mountains are also a wonderful feature that claim the land within its borders.

Crater Lake is one of the most known features of Oregon. This lake is a National Park located on the crest of the Cascade Mountain Range in Southern Oregon. The lake, 1,943 feet deep, is well known for being the deepest in the nation, and seventh deepest in the world. Because of the snowfall near the area, it is also one of the clearest the world has ever seen. This Lake hadn’t always been here, however. It was created 7,000 years ago when the 12,000 ft tall volcano, Mount Mazama, had collapsed following a large explosion.

Within Oregon's borders lies another volcano, subjected as the most likely to erupt. Even though it has the most potential to explode all over Oregon, don't fret! The likelihood of this phenomenon actually happening is slim. 50 miles southeast of Portland is the one and only Mt. Hood! This is another one of Oregon’s most well known landmarks. Maybe you can’t get enough of it, and perhaps you would enjoy a night or two in the Timberline Lodge in the Mt. Hood area.

The 80-mile-long Columbia River Gorge has over time has worn the deep gash into the volcanic rock of the Cascade Range nearly down to sea level. At some points along the way the canyon walls tower 4,000 feet above the river! Not to mention there are 77 waterfalls on the Oregon side of the Gorge alone (who doesn't like a good waterfall?).

Alright, let’s head on back to southern Oregon to the Rogue River. This river looks like a whole lot of fun! Anyone who knows me, knows that I really love going kayaking down the river, so this would be a blast! But for those who like tubing, I guess you could do that too...

Hells Canyon is another great stop in Oregon. The famous river gorge is one of the deepest in the world at 7,993 feet and a whopping 10 miles wide! However, here’s the catch, most of this natural wonder is inaccessible by road, so looks like a hike is on the way!

Okay, sorry. Maybe you all want to do something else other than hiking or kayaking and do I have something for you. Who has ever been able to say they’ve been less than 2 yards away from a real life shark? You can say you’ve been when you visit the awesome Oregon Coast Aquarium -you don't have to tell them that you were protected by a layer of glass, but never the less. Located along the shore in Newport, this aquarium is home to the Whale starring in the famous movie Free Willy. Not to mention, they have a variety of different exhibits for your enjoyment, including: Sandy Shores, Rocky Shores, Coastal waters, Sea jelly, Swampland, Passage of the Deep, the Aviary, and the outdoor mammal exhibits.

Sorry, sorry, sorry. One more hiking trail okay? How amazing would it be to trace the footsteps of the famous Lewis and Clark Fort to Sea Trail and walk the same path that they took more than 200 years ago. Its only 6 and a half miles.

While still in Oregon, and of course after all of our stops in the mountains, we could visit the interpretive center of the event that all young children learn of in elementary school...the Oregon Trail. The story comes alive right in front of you through the exhibits and living history at the National Historic Oregon Trail Interpretive Center. “This 23,000-square-foot facility tells the stories of the Oregon Trail immigrants. Oregon Trail ruts, interpretive trails, exhibits, special events and living history performances bring the Oregon Trail back to life,” says Travel Oregon.com