Most lakes look blue or green, but a few lakes in America show colors that seem almost painted. Minerals, algae, and depth can turn the water pink, turquoise, or deep sapphire. Here are six American lakes with unbelievable water colors.
1. Crater Lake, Oregon
Crater Lake in southern Oregon is famous for its intense, deep blue color. It formed in the collapsed crater of an ancient volcano and is the deepest lake in the United States. Because no rivers flow into or out of it, the water comes almost entirely from snow and rain. The water is so clear and pure that sunlight reaches far below the surface, giving it its striking blue.
2. Great Salt Lake North Arm, Utah
The northern arm of Utah's Great Salt Lake can turn a vivid pink color. A railroad causeway divides the lake, and the northern side is much saltier than the southern side. Salt-loving microbes and tiny brine shrimp thrive in the salty water and give it its pink tint. The color is strongest in late summer, when the water is warm and evaporation is high.
3. Bear Lake, Utah and Idaho
Bear Lake sits on the Utah-Idaho border and is known as the Caribbean of the Rockies for its bright turquoise water. The color comes from tiny limestone particles suspended in the water, which reflect sunlight in shades of blue and green. The lake is about 20 miles long and is popular for boating, fishing, and swimming. Its unusual color stands out sharply against the surrounding desert hills.
4. Lake Tahoe, California and Nevada
Lake Tahoe, on the California-Nevada border, is famous for its clear, blue-green water. It is one of the deepest lakes in the United States and is surrounded by high mountain peaks. The water's clarity lets visitors see far below the surface on calm days. The blue-green tint comes from the lake's great depth and the purity of its water.
5. Green Lake, New York
Green Lake in central New York gets its name from its unusual greenish-turquoise color. The lake is very deep with steep sides, and its water layers almost never mix. This rare condition, called meromictic, traps minerals that give the water its green tint. The lake sits in a state park, where visitors can walk its trails and admire the strange color.
6. Lake McDonald, Montana
Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park, Montana, is famous for its colorful pebbles and clear, turquoise water. The stones on the shore and lakebed come in red, green, yellow, and purple, colored by different amounts of iron. The water is so clear that the pebbles can be seen shining below the surface. On sunny days, the combination of colored stones and bright water looks almost unreal.
0 Comments