Lake Louise, Glacial lake in Banff National Park, Canada
Lake Louise is a glacial lake in Banff National Park, Alberta, stretching roughly 2 km in length between steep mountain slopes. The water reaches a depth of around 70 m and is framed by several peaks, including Mount Victoria at its far end.
Thomas Wilson reached the lake in 1882 with a Stoney Nakoda guide named Edwin Hunter and initially called it Emerald Lake. A few years later, the lake was renamed after Princess Louise Caroline Alberta, daughter of Queen Victoria.
The Stoney Nakoda peoples called this place Ho-run-num-nay, meaning Lake of Little Fishes in their language. Visitors today can walk along the shoreline and watch how the water seems to shift its color as light changes throughout the day.
The path along the shoreline offers level ground and is suitable for wheelchairs and strollers, especially in the front area. In summer, canoes or kayaks can be rented, while in winter the frozen surface is used for skating.
The water shows its characteristic turquoise color because of tiny particles of rock flour carried by melting glaciers. These particles reflect light in a way that gives the lake its unusual appearance.
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