Submersible to Probe Crater Lake’s Depths for Thermal Vents
Scientists using a one-person submersible craft plan today to make the first of 20 dives looking for hot springs at the bottom of Crater Lake, the deepest lake in the United States.
National Park Service officials and researchers said they hope to confirm the existence of thermal vents on the lake bottom and gather data on many other features of the unusual body of water.
Scientists began assembling gear for the unprecedented dive Monday. The submersible craft, called Deep Rover and designed for ocean exploration, was scheduled to be placed in the lake today.
The lake, which resulted from the explosion of Mt. Mazama nearly 7,000 years ago, is 1,932 feet deep and is famous for its clear, cobalt-blue water.
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