Glacial Lakes.

One of my favorite parts about going through the Rocky Mountains is the lakes.



Lake Louise. Oct 2011.



Most of the lakes in the Rockies are glacier-fed. As glaciers pass over rock, they grind it up into fine pieces called rock flour, which is released in melt water. Most of the rock flour settles to the bottom of the lake, but some of it remains suspended in the water.



Mt Burgess overlooking Emerald Lake. Aug 2011.

This suspended rock flour is very effective at scattering light, making the water in glacial lakes and rivers appear a milky-blue color (much the same as air particles scatter light to make the sky appear blue).





Abraham Lake. August 2011.



Suspended minerals also encourage small blue-green algae to grow, which gives these lakes their stunning turquoise appearance.













Natural Bridge over the Kicking Horse River. August 2011.