Near Joseph in Wallowa County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Wallowa Lake

Oregon Geology

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 29, 2017

1. Wallowa Lake Marker

Inscription. Wallowa Lake fills a depression that was formerly occupied by a great river of ice that flowed out of the high Wallowa mountains to the south. This glacier reached its greatest size in the late Pleistocene age, about 12 to 40 thousand years ago. As it flowed out onto the valley floor, the glacier build great piles of rock debris around its edges, called moraines. When the ice melted away, the moraines remained as the high straight ridges we see today. The lake is 283 feet deep, but the glacier was over 1500 feet thick. These moraines are some of the best preserved examples to be found anywhere in North America.

Erected by Oregon Highway Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Natural Features. In addition, it is included in the Oregon Beaver Boards series list.

Location. 45° 20.16′ N, 117° 13.236′ W. Marker is near Joseph, Oregon, in Wallowa County. It is on Wallowa Lake Highway (Powerhouse Road) (Oregon Route 351), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 62309 Wallowa

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Lake Highway, Joseph OR 97846, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Eastern Oregon.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 7 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: tiwi∙teqis (Old Chief Joseph) (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chief "Old" Joseph (about 400 feet away); "Only the sounds of the horses..." (approx. half a mile away); Salmon for Trade (approx. half a mile away); Putting Down Roots (approx. half a mile away); Iwetemlaykin State Heritage Site (approx. half a mile away); 19 Dr. J.W. Barnard Drugs 08 (approx. 1.2 miles away); Nez Perce (approx. 7.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Joseph.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Benson Bubbler (was approx. 6.8 miles away but has been permanently removed).

Also see . . . Oregon Travel Experience - Wallowa Lake. (Submitted on January 12, 2018, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon.)

Wallowa Lake and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 29, 2017

2. Wallowa Lake and Marker

Wallowa Lake image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 29, 2017

3. Wallowa Lake

Credits. This page was last revised on February 22, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 755 times since then and 43 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on December 12, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.