Why are the lakes turquoise in Canada?

As glaciers erode, they grind down the rock below them, creating a fine sediment that's commonly called rock flour. “So the turquoise-ish appearance of those alpine lakes comes from the eroded rock material that pours into them from melting glaciers,” says Rolf Vinebrooke of the University of Alberta.



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Glacier-Melt and Rock Flour The rock flour consists of finely ground rock sediments, primarily composed of minerals like silt, clay, and glacial till. These minuscule particles remain suspended in the water, scattering sunlight and giving it a unique turquoise or milky blue appearance.

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Fine particles of pulverized rock absorb and scatter sunlight in ways that can give water a striking blue-green color.

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To ensure warmer weather and an excellent chance to witness the most vivid turquoise water, the best time to visit Lake Louise is in July and August. That being said, the color never leaves, and you can witness the lake thawed until late October/early November when the lake freezes over.

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But the culprit for the beautiful blue is the limestone! Limestone is composed primarily of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and is white in color. As the river breaks down this rock into tiny crystals, these crystals will get mixed up into the water.

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The blue in Lake Michigan and Lake Huron is sediment brought to the surface when strong winds churned the lakes. The green in Lake Erie and in Lake Huron's Saginaw Bay is algae, which builds on the surface when winds are calm.

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The park's glacier-fed lakes provide spectacular photo opportunities, but most are much too cold for swimming. There are, however, a variety of public swimming facilities throughout the national park.

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Lake Louise has always been renowned as one of the best hiking and mountaineering areas in Canada – offering a plethora of excellent summer trails for beginners and experts alike.

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13 of the most crystal clear waters on Earth
  • Lake Mashu, Japan. ...
  • The Maldives. ...
  • Sheosar Lake, Pakistan. ...
  • Peyto Lake, Canada. ...
  • Abel Tasman National Park, New Zealand. ...
  • The Weddell Sea, Antarctic Peninsula. ...
  • Cancun, Mexico. ...
  • Cook Islands (Rarotonga)


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Where is the most turquoise water in the USA?
  • Blue Hole – Santa Rosa, New Mexico.
  • Chena Hot Springs – Fairbanks, Alaska.
  • Las Olas Beach – Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
  • Grand Lake – Grand Lake Colorado.
  • La Jolla Cove – San Diego, California.
  • Sail Bay – San Diego, California.
  • Lake Conway – Edgewood, Florida.


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This MODIS image of blue water in the Caribbean Sea looks blue because the sunlight is scattered by the water molecules. Near the Bahama Islands, the lighter aqua colors are shallow water where the sunlight is reflecting off of the sand and reefs near the surface.

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To ensure warmer weather and an excellent chance to witness the most vivid turquoise water, the best time to visit Lake Louise is in July and August. That being said, the color never leaves, and you can witness the lake thawed until late October/early November when the lake freezes over.

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The water temperature rarely gets above 4°C, meaning you only have about 15 minutes or so until you become hypothermic. So the question should be, “Can you take a dip in Lake Louise?” Which absolutely you can if you feel like icing those bones!

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