Moraine Lake

Moraine Lake is located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.

The color of the water is caused by a type of silt called “rock flour”, fine mineral powder produced by the grinding action of the glaciers against their rocky foundations. The lakes are infused with this powder, and these suspended rock particles give the lake a bright, turquoise color. The exact color changes with time of day, amount of rock flour, and also your elevation relative to the water.

We spent quite a bit of time there, mesmerized by the color of the water, and watching people arrive by the busloads and seeing everyone’s excitement as they saw the water for the first time. We watched as the clouds moved in and out lighting up different portions of the landscape, and as the water went from rough to calm, creating beautiful reflections of the snowy peaks.

To view more Canadian Rockies images, visit our Canadian Rockies gallery page.