Emerald Lake (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emerald Lake |
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The conference centre at Emerald Lake
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 Emerald Lake
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Yoho National Park, British Columbia |
| Coordinates | 51°26′38″N 116°31′52″W / 51.444°N 116.531°W |
| Primary outflows | Emerald River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Emerald Lake is a beautiful lake found in Yoho National Park in British Columbia, Canada. It is the biggest of all the lakes and ponds in Yoho Park, and it's one of the most popular places for visitors to see.
Right by the lake, there's a nice place to stay called Emerald Lake Lodge. You can enjoy many activities here! In summer, you can rent canoes and paddle on the water. There's also a hiking trail that goes all the way around the lake, which is about 5.2 kilometers (3.2 miles) long. The first half of this trail is even easy for wheelchairs and strollers. When winter comes, the lake freezes over, making it a great spot for cross-country skiing.
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Why is it Called Emerald Lake?
Emerald Lake gets its name from its amazing turquoise color. This bright color comes from tiny bits of powdered rock, like limestone, that are floating in the water. These tiny particles are called rock flour. When sunlight hits them, they make the water look like a sparkling emerald gem! The color is usually most vibrant in July, after the snow from the nearby mountains has melted and flowed into the lake.
Mountains and Weather Around the Lake
The lake is surrounded by tall mountains, including the President Range, Mount Burgess, and Wapta Mountain. These mountains act like a big bowl, trapping storms. This means the area gets a lot of rain in summer and heavy snow in winter.
Because of all this moisture and the lake's lower elevation, a special variety of plants grows here. You can find trees like western red cedar, western yew, and western hemlock. In late June and early July, the area on the northeast side of the lake becomes a colorful carpet of wildflowers.
How the Lake Was Discovered
The first non-Indigenous person to see Emerald Lake was a Canadian guide named Tom Wilson. He found it by accident in 1882. He was tracking some of his horses that had wandered off when he came into the valley. Even for an experienced explorer like Tom, the lake was a stunning sight. He later said, "For a few moments I sat [on] my horse and enjoyed the rare, peaceful beauty of the scene."
Tom Wilson was the one who named the lake "Emerald" because of its incredible color. Interestingly, this wasn't the first time he had used that name for a lake! Earlier that same year, he had discovered another lake and called it Emerald. That first lake was later renamed Lake Louise, which is also very famous.
Images for kids
See also
In Spanish: Lago Emerald para niños
