Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 26.djvu/18

8 just south of Paulina Lake, affords what is probably the finest view in Oregon. It stands about 8500 feet high, or 2000 feet above the lake, and its sides to the north are rough and jagged. From the Forest Service lookout on top the writer has seen the great snow peaks of the Cascade Range spread out like a fan in magnificent panorama, extending from Mt. Adams on the north to Mt. McLouglin on the south. Paulina Peak is situated well to the east of the Cascade Range and permits a comprehensive view of the great mountain backbone of the state that cannot be duplicated, not only on account of the height of the viewpoint but also on account of its distance from the main range which provides an almost perfect perspective. Paulina Lake was named for the famous Indian chief of central Oregon.

Summer Lake, in Lake county, is one of the larger lakes of the arid part of the state and has an area of about 60 square miles. Its main source of supply is the Ana River which is a spring-fed stream attaining great volume within a short distance from its source. Summer Lake has no outlet and as a result its water is strongly impregnated with salts, particularly sodium salts. The lake was discovered and named by then Captain John C. Fremont, of the U. S. topographical engineers on December 16, 1843. As he looked down from the ridge which his party had climbed from the west he saw the sun shining on the lake, bordered with green grass and the contrast was so great that he named the mountains Winter Ridge and the body of water Summer Lake.

Four days later Fremont reached another large lake occupying a great trough in the earth's surface, and this he named for his chief, Colonel J. J. Abert. Lake Abert is about the same size as Summer Lake and is fed principally by the outlet of Chewaucan Marsh and Crooked Creek. The water is strongly impregnated with various sodium carbonates and other salts. The great fault scarp which stands above this lake on the east is an imposing sight.