Alpine lake

Alpine lakes and forest, Denali National Park, Alaska

Alpine lakes are lakes or reservoirs at high altitudes, usually over 5,000 feet (1524 metres) above sea level, or above the tree line.

Alpine lakes are usually clearer than lower lakes because the cold water reduces the speed and amount of algae and moss growing in the water. Often the lakes are surrounded by varieties of pine trees, aspens, and other high altitude trees.

Yellowstone Lake is an alpine lake, and so is Lake Baikal.

Alpine Lake Media

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  Blanca Lake in Washington, USA with the characteristic greenish water from glacial flour. The Columbia Glacier seen in the background is the main water source for this lake.

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  Formation of a glacial lake.

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  A newly formed (ca 2015) alpine lake on the terminus of the Ice Worm glacier on Mt. Daniel in Washington, USA resulting from glacier recession.

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  Lake Cadagno in the Swiss Alps is a naturally meromictic alpine lake due to saline input from groundwater.

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  Total Alkalinity of Surface Waters in the United States. The Cascade region is the mountain region covering Washington, Oregon and Northern California.

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  Example of layering in a sediment core.