Why do some lakes look turquoise?

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



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Answer and Explanation: Glacial lakes often have a magnificent turquoise color, and this is thanks to tiny sediment particles suspended in the water called rock flour. Basically, the slow and relentless grinding of a glacier over exposed bedrock erodes the rock into tiny, silt-sized particles.

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Blue water lakes contain low concentrations of algae and other substances, resulting in high clarity and a deep blue color. Water molecules absorb longer, visible wavelengths (e.g. red light, 600-700 nm) while shorter, blue wavelengths (< 500 nm) pass deeper into the water column.

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For nearly a century a myth has circulated that West Okoboji is one of only three blue water lakes in the world, the others being Lake Geneva in Switzerland and Lake Louise in Canada.

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Above the Sugar Loaf Dam west of Leadville, Colorado the Turquoise Lake is a man-made reservoir that sits around 10,000 feet of elevation in Lake County.

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While you might think Turquoise Lake is named for its blue waters, this fresh glacial lake of nearly 1,800 acres once hosted a turquoise mine.

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As you can tell by now, many factors come into play to create the perfect turquoise color that defines the Caribbean. We are lucky to enjoy mother nature showing off with the beautiful intense tones that Cancun gives to everyone who visits.

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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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1. The Maldives. The Maldives, located in the Indian Ocean, have around 1,190 islands and sandbanks. A lagoon with crystal clear water encircles all the islands, which are protected by a reef structure that is home to an array of underwater life.

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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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Phytoplankton absorbs electromagnetic radiation in the reds and blues of the visible spectrum but reflects the greens, which explains why the waters they inhabit look green.

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The largest crystalline lagoon developed by Crystal Lagoons in the United States is Lago Mar.

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