Today - Moraine Lake. Walter Wilcox discovered and named Moraine Lake in 1899. This amazing crystalline lake is a wonder to behold. Above it tower the ice-capped peaks of Mount Wenkchemna, whose 914 meter sheer walls enclose the eastern side of the lake. For a time this spectacular view was even featured on the back of the Canadian $20.00 bill. The lake was created not by the moraine, or debris of a glacier as its name implies, but by a large rock slide from neighboring Mount Babel. It wondrous, iridescent blue colour comes from fine particles of glacial till, also know as rock flour, that flow into the lake during the summer melt from glaciers high in the mountain. This beautiful lake is called the Jewel of the Rockies. Part of Banff National Park its an excellent place to see bear, bighorned sheep, mountain goat, elk and moose. Its also the start of a number of excellent hiking trails. One of them ascends over 700 meters above the surface of the lake - one of the highest points reach by a major trail in the Canadian Rockies. The lake is only 15 kilometers from Lake Louise.
Posted on: Fri, 31 Jan 2014 16:02:37 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015