Lake McArthur (British Columbia) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lake McArthur |
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Lake McArthur, Yoho Park (1924) by J. E. H. MacDonald
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 Lake McArthur
Location in British Columbia
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| Location | Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada |
| Coordinates | 51°19′57″N 116°20′16″W / 51.332477°N 116.337908°W |
| Basin countries | Canada |
Lake McArthur is a beautiful lake located in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. It's found near the Continental Divide, which is like an imaginary line that separates where rivers flow either to the Pacific Ocean or to the Atlantic Ocean. This lake is famous for its incredibly deep blue color, which makes it a popular spot for photos!
Where is Lake McArthur?
Lake McArthur is tucked away in a valley within Yoho National Park. It sits between two mountains called Mount Schaffer and Park Mountain.
This stunning lake is about 1.5 kilometers (about 1 mile) long. It's also super deep, reaching about 85 meters (279 feet) down! This makes it the deepest lake in all of Yoho National Park. Its amazing depth is what gives the water its special deep blue color.
Long ago, in 1906, a travel guide described Lake McArthur as a "sapphire gem." It mentioned that the lake is located above the tree line, meaning there are no trees growing around it. It also noted a huge glacier from Mount Biddle that used to break off into the water, forming big icebergs.
Who is Lake McArthur Named After?
Lake McArthur is named after a person named James Joseph McArthur (1856–1925). He was a surveyor, which means he measured and mapped land.
James McArthur was the first European to explore and describe this lake, along with another nearby lake called Lake O'Hara. He discovered both lakes in 1887. At the time, he was working on mapping the land for the Canadian Pacific Railway line. He and his helper had to carry heavy equipment up mountains to take pictures and make measurements for their maps.
How to Visit Lake McArthur
You can visit Lake McArthur by taking an 8-kilometer (about 5-mile) hike. This hike starts from a place called Le Relais Day Shelter in Yoho Park. To get to the shelter, you'll drive about 11 kilometers (about 7 miles) on an access road.
There's a bus that goes past the shelter, but you need to make reservations ahead of time to ride it. The hike to the lake involves climbing about 310 meters (1,017 feet) uphill.
The trail to Lake McArthur is very scenic! You'll walk through forests filled with larch trees, pass by Schäffer Lake, and cross through beautiful meadows before reaching the summit of McArthur Pass and finally the lake.
