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Lake Louise

The Lake Louise area, about 30 miles north of Banff townsite, contains a series of gorgeous mountain lakes among which Lake Louise is the most well known. These lakes are blessed with a brilliant blue color which results from the light filtering effect of rock flour (a powdery substance that the glaciers grind off the mountain rocks) in the glacial runoff.

In the pictures of Lake Louise, you can see the Victoria Glacier in the distance.

Peyto Lake

Peyto Lake is the most brilliant turquoise blue of the mountain lakes in the region. The color of the lake looks unreal, but these photos have not been tampered with in PhotoShop. The lake really is turquoise. The rock flour suspended in the water filters out much of the light spectrum, leaving this remarkable turquoise blue color.

Wildflowers near Peyto Lake	In this picture, milky white runoff from the glacier above is seen entering Peyto Lake. The milky white color is due to the rock flour which, when suspended in the lake, filters light to give the lake its brilliant blue color.

Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is located in the Valley of the Ten Peaks. These peaks towering above the lake give it a sense of grandeur, yet Moraine Lake nevertheless has an intimate feel.