SW AB-043 & CY-237-2 Moraine Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Moraine Lake is in Alberta, Canada.  It is a glacially-fed lake in Banff National Park, 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) outside the Village of Lake Louise.  It is situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks, at an elevation of approximately 6,183 feet (1,885 m). At this elevation, the lake remains frozen into the month of June and does not reach its crest until mid to late July.  Once the glacier water starts to run it brings with it rock flour or silt. This is what the light reflects off to give the lake its stunning deep blue colour. The lake has a surface area of 0.5 square kilometres (0.19 sq mi).

There are several trails around the lake that range from casual walks to more strenuous hikes. Due to bear activity some of the trails have seasonal restrictions to maximize safety. Hikers must travel in a tight group of four or more. Occasionally trails may be closed off completely.  The Rockpile Trail is the one most commonly taken by tourists.  It runs along the actual moraine and 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. That view of the mountains behind the lake in Valley of the Ten Peaks is known as the Twenty Dollar View, as Moraine Lake was featured on the reverse side of the 1969 and 1979 issues of the Canadian twenty dollar bill.

 

Moraine Lake is only half the size of its nearby neighbour Lake Louise, but perhaps even more scenic.

These three beautiful postcards came from (1) Sarah K. (blubutterfly) 15 April 2014 Swap-bot, (2) Maxine K (simcoe54) 20 August 2014 Swap-bot and (3) Sarah M. 7 July 2015 Swap-bot.