Iceline Trail Glacier
Grinding Away of the Canadian Rockies
The massive weight of ice that comprises a glacier causes the ice to move down the side of the mountain grinding away the rock beneath. Fine particles of rock, called rock flour, created by this grinding, is carried away down the many rivulets of water cascading down the cliffs and valleys of the Canadian Rockies.
Takkaka Falls
Pouring Water
The stream water, heavily laden with rock flour, pours into the alpine lakes.
Emerald Lakes
The ultra-fine texture of the sediment keeps it suspended in the water column. As the sunlight enters the lakes, the suspended sediment causes the green and blue wavelengths of light to reflect back. The color of light we see may be a vibrant emerald green, or cloudy windex blue depending on the time of day, season and cloud cover, all of which affect the amount and angle of light reflected.
Celeste Lake
Emerald Lake
Loony Residents
Paddling out on Emerald Lake, we chanced to see a Loon mama and her chick. An osprey soured above us carrying a fish it had caught in the Lake.
Loon and Chick
Disappearing Glaciers
As the climate continues to heat up, the glaciers will continue to melt at an ever-increasing rate, disappearing altogether within our life time. The beautiful emerald, alpine lakes, depend on the glacial melt for their existence and soon they too will cease to exist, taking with them the loons, the osprey and all the other inhabitants of this aquatic system.
Flower of the Day Willow Catkins; the buds are essential foods for grouse, ptarmagins and moose.
Willow Catkin
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