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Why is the water green in Banff?

The lakes in the mountains that have vivid blue and green colours are glacier fed. As the melt water from a glacier starts to flow in the spring time it carries with it glacier silt or rock flour.



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The secret ingredient, rather, is rock flour—also called glacial flour, which is made up of extremely fine rock particles. Rock flour was deposited in the Rockies during the last ice age and when suspended in lakes or rivers, it creates a milky, luminous turquoise color.

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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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Green Lake toxic algae Swim only where a lifeguard is present. Do not swim in other areas. Keep pets out of the lake. Do not drink lake water.

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As glacial meltwater carries sediments, it creates a suspension in the water, scattering light and causing it to appear blue. The combination of glacial milk and the reflective properties of the suspended rock flour particles results in lakes such as Lake Moraine and Lake Louise exibiting breathtaking shades of blue.

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Banff's drinking water consistently meets all standards set by the Guidelines for Canadian Drinking Water Quality.

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Lake Louise has drawn visitors to the Canadian Rockies for over a century. The alpine lake in Banff National Park is a wild turquoise blue color fed by glacier melt and set by a backdrop of Mount Victoria and a hanging glacier. This pristine piece of wilderness draws in millions of visitors a year.

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Technically yes, you can swim at Lake Louise, but it probably won't be for long. The water temperature rarely gets above 4°C, meaning you only have about 15 minutes or so until you become hypothermic.

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Moraine Lake: Nature's Gemstone: Located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks within Banff National park, Moraine Lake is often regarded as a gemstone amidst the Canadian Rockies. Its intense blue color, complemented by a ring of snow-capped peaks, makes it a photographer's paradise.

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