Moss

Did you know Crater Lake has a mysterious moss?  Due to the incredibly clear water, high levels of ultraviolet radiation penetrate the water and few plants can survive.  Students and professors from Oregon State University have been studying Crater Lake for years because of the unique conditions of the water.  Remarkably, one moss has flourished: the Drepanocladus aduncus.  This huge plant is found between 100 to 460 feet below the surface and grows up to 20 feet thick.  Unlike regular moss, which can double in size in just one day, the Crater Lake moss doubles in size only once a year.  The age of the moss has yet to be determined, though it is currently estimated to be 6,000 years old.

In summer 2007, the Park received national publicity for research of a “mystery moss”.  Read the CNET article here.

Take a video tour of the lake here, and here.