Twilight at Emerald Lake

In 1882, during the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway through the Canadian Rockies, the first non-indigenous person to view Emerald Lake was a legendary guide by the name of Tom Wilson. He had stumbled upon the lake completely by accident while tracking some of his horses that had gotten away. He named the small gem of a lake for the color of the water. Unlike the equally beautiful blue color of nearby lakes like Moraine, Hector, Bow, and Peyto, the color of Emerald Lake is different, due to the rock sediment that is suspended in the glacial water and produces a green spectrum when reflecting sunlight. Interestingly, Tom also named another lake to the east by the same name. That lake was renamed shortly afterward and is the world-famous Lake Louise.

The color of Emerald Lake is most spectacular in July and August when the glaciers containing the sediment melt somewhat in the summer heat. July and August are also busy times with tourists flocking to the area. This image was created at the end of December, a much quieter time at the lake, but also a time with an abundance of snow but open water. Photographed at dusk, with the illuminated lodge reflected in the water, the beauty of the solitude of Emerald Lake is revealed.

Photo Information: A very high-resolution photograph taken at Emerald Lake, a freshwater lake in Yoho National Park, British Columbia, Canada. Yoho National Park is one of the four contiguous national parks in Canada's Rocky Mountains, along the boundary of British Columbia and Alberta Provinces.

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