Peyto Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Peyto Lake |
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Peyto Lake seen from Bow Summit
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| Location | Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada |
| Coordinates | 51°43′37″N 116°31′19″W / 51.72694°N 116.52194°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Peyto Creek |
| Primary outflows | Mistaya River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 2.8 km (1.7 mi) |
| Max. width | 0.8 km (0.50 mi) |
| Surface area | 5.3 km (3.3 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,880 m (6,170 ft) |
Peyto Lake is a stunning bright blue lake located in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rocky Mountains. It's a very popular spot for tourists and photographers because of its amazing color and shape. The lake is named after Bill Peyto, who was an early trapper and mountain guide in the Banff area.
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What Makes Peyto Lake So Blue?
Peyto Lake gets its incredible turquoise color from tiny bits of rock. These tiny rock particles are called "rock flour." They come from the nearby glaciers. As the glaciers move, they grind up the rocks beneath them into a fine powder.
How Rock Flour Colors the Water
During the warmer months, especially in summer, the ice in the glaciers melts. This meltwater carries the rock flour into Peyto Creek, which then flows into Peyto Lake. When sunlight hits these tiny rock particles in the water, they reflect the blue and green parts of the light spectrum. This makes the lake look bright turquoise or emerald green. The more rock flour in the water, the brighter and more intense the color.
Where is Peyto Lake Located?
Peyto Lake is found in Banff National Park, which is in the province of Alberta, Canada. It's part of the Icefields Parkway, a famous scenic road that connects Banff and Jasper National Park.
Visiting Peyto Lake
The lake is easy to see from a viewpoint called Bow Summit. This viewpoint is one of the highest points on the Icefields Parkway. From here, you can get a fantastic view of the lake's unique shape, which some people say looks like a wolf's head. There are also hiking trails around the lake for those who want to explore more closely.
Facts About Peyto Lake
- Peyto Lake is a type of lake called a "glacial lake." This means it was formed by glaciers and is fed by meltwater from them.
- The lake is about 2.8 km (1.7 mi) long and 0.8 km (0.50 mi) wide.
- Its surface area is around 5.3 km (3.3 mi).
- The lake sits at an elevation of about 1,880 m (6,170 ft) above sea level.
- The water in Peyto Lake is very cold, even in summer, because it comes directly from melting glaciers.
Images for kids
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Peyto Lake seen from Bow Summit
