detail from: KRK Art dizajn

ATTRACTIVE LAKES OF CANADA 5

SIMO JELAČA, Ph.D.

KAMLOOPS LAKE

Kamloops Lake is in British Columbia, on the Thompson River, west of the city of Kamloops. It is 20 km long, 1.6 km wide and 152 m deep. During prehistoric times it was much longer. It is of glacial origin. The name was given to it by the Indigenous peoples from the word Tk'emlups, which means “meeting of waters”. On all sides of the lake there are steep shores. Green grass grows around Kamloops Lake, which is grazed by Mule Deer and Rocky Mountain Sheep during the spring. Not far from the lake passes the Canadian Railway (CP). Ponderosa pine and spruce grow in the area. Between May and July, the lake level rises to 9.1 m from the melting of snow. The water of Kamloops Lake is relatively warm, and never freezes in winter. This makes Kamloops Lake popular for recreation. The lake has an area of 52 km2, a maximum length of 29 km, an average depth of 71 m and a maximum depth of 152 m. The volume of water in the lake is 3.7 km3, the length of the shoreline around the lake is 60.5 km, and its level at an altitude of 335 m.

OKANAGAN LAKE

Okanagan Lake is located in British Columbia, in the Okanagan Valley. It is 135 km long and between 4 and 5 km wide. It has a total area of 348 km2. The lake is very picturesque. It is located in a wine-growing region, surrounded by vineyards and has a Mediterranean climate. Its maximum depth is 232 m, and its average depth is 76 m. The volume of Okanagan Lake is estimated at 24.6 km3. Its shoreline is 270 km long, and its level is at an altitude of 342 m. This lake does not freeze every winter, and it froze during the winters of 1906/07 and 1949/50. Immediately around Okanagan Lake is arable land in the form of terraces, which are used for intensive cultivation of agricultural crops and orchards.

EMERALD LAKE

We visited Emerald Lake during our stay in Alaska. On our way to Emerald, we passed Tagish and some other lakes, which were still partially frozen during the summer. Not far from there, in the Yukon, is the picturesque old town of Carcross, where we had coffee.

Emerald Lake is a true pearl of natural creation, unique in the world in its beauty. Due to the low winter temperatures in this area, Emerald Lake regularly freezes every winter and therefore it is sterile, there is no life in it, no fish. The lake is located not far from mountain peaks, on which white snow falls and which are reflected in Emerald, making the lake even more beautiful. Fossils have been deposited in Emerald over millions of years, from which the lake has acquired different colors of water on its surface. Depending on the depth, the colors of the lake change from one shore to the other and to the middle of the lake. It is beautiful to watch and photograph. The name Emerald has the meaning of emerald, which it rightfully belongs to. This gem of nature was given to all of us who had the opportunity to visit it, and is intended for all Canadians and visitors from around the world. The water in Emerald is clean, even the cleanest in Canada, and can be drunk without fear of any infection.

Emerald Lake has an area of 92.6 hectares, a depth of about 14 m, and the length of the paths around the lake is only 4.7 m. Emerald Lake is included among the most beautiful lakes in the world, along with Peyto Lake.

This lake rightfully bears the name "Emerald", because it truly represents a pearl of Canadian beauty. If for no other reason, it is worth coming to Emerald and resting your eyes on its surface, where the peaks of the surrounding mountains are reflected in its depths, unchanged for millions of years.

Emerald Lake, Yukon Territory, Canada (Photo by S. Jelača)

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