At 13,020ft this unique alpine lake is the third-highest in the USA. Thought by ancient Hawaiians to be bottomless, it's actually only 10ft deep and, despite desert conditions, never dry.
Clay formed from ash holds the water, which is fed by melted snow, permafrost and less than 15in of rainfall annually. To Hawaiians, these sacred waters are the island's piko , and a traditional practice is to place a baby's umbilical cord in the water to assure good health.
