AQUATIC FRONTS

Presents

Peyto Lake

By: Katelin Kukk

Peyto Lake is a body of water that looks surreal. Its vivid blue water brings people in from all over the world. Peyto Lake gets its colors from glaciers that grind down rock into rock flour. This “flour” refracts light to give its unique blue shade. It was named after Bill Peyto, a park guide in the early 1900s, to commemorate his accomplishment as one of the first national park wardens and his unique style of conservation and management.

While this picture-perfect scenery appears flawless, trouble is brewing. Climate change is causing the Peyto Glacier to melt at an alarming rate, and researchers predict it will be gone in about ten years. Meanwhile, overtourism has surged, with increased foot and car traffic, leading to a rise in wildlife mortality due to vehicular accidents. If action is not taken immediately, we may not only lose a natural wonder but also the delicate ecosystem that surrounds it.

Keep our waters beautiful!