Moraine Lake
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Moraine Lake is a glacially fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometres outside the Village of Lake Louise, Alberta, Canada. It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6183 feet (1884 m). The lake has a water surface of 0.5 km².
The lake, being glacially fed, does not reach its crest until mid to late June. However, when it is full, it is a beautiful shade of blue. The lake gets its color from the refraction of light off the rock flour deposited in the lake on a continual basis.
The area around the lake has several walking/hiking trails, which are from time to time, restricted because of grizzly bear activity. For the sake of the bears, one should never break the Group Access Restrictions[1]. Parks Canada provides updated trail conditions and/or restrictions [2].
The easiest of the hiking trails is the one most commonly taken by tourists. The Rockpile Trail is approximately 300 metres long, with an elevation change of 24 metres (79 ft). The view of the lake from the top of the rockpile is one of the most photographed locations in all of Canada.
Along the same trailhead, the Consolation Lakes trail starts, which is approximately three kilometres (2 mi) long, with an elevation change of 90 metres (295 ft). Upon reaching Consolation Lakes hikers may continue along to the upper lake, which is not visible from the end of the lower lake. There is, however, no clearly marked trail, and can often be a scramble over large rocky areas.
Near the canoe docks of Moraine Lake Lodge[3] there is another trailhead. This trailhead is the start of two trails, one of which branches out into four different trails - so there are in total, five trails starting at that trailhead (Moraine Lake Lakeshore Trail, Eiffel Lake, Wenkchemna Pass, Larch Valley, and Sentinel Pass). The Lake Louise & Yoho Map[4] provides information on these trails.
[edit] Trivia
Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the 1970 and 1978 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill[5].
[edit] References
- ^ Parks Canada - Group Access Restrictions
- ^ Parks Canada - Current trail conditions and restrictions
- ^ Moraine Lake Lodge
- ^ Gemtreck - Lake Louise & Yoho Map
- ^ Bank of Canada - 1969-1979 Canadian $20 Bank note featuring Moraine Lake
[edit] External links
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- Parks Canada - Banff National Park Visitor Information Centres, including hours of operation and contact information.
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