What gives Banff's lakes their turquoise color?

Glacial rock flour suspended in the water

After whom is Lake Louise named?

Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria

Peyto Lake is named after whom?

Bill Peyto, an early mountain guide

Banff Lakes Quiz: Lake Louise, Moraine and Peyto

Glacial rock flour turns the lakes of Banff National Park an almost unreal turquoise, and this Banff lakes quiz explains the science and stories behind them. Play 10 interactive questions on Lake Louise and its princess, Moraine Lake and the Valley of the Ten Peaks, wolf-shaped Peyto Lake, Lake Minnewanka's drowned town and Bow Lake.

Start Banff Lakes Quiz

🎯 Daily Trivia Challenge • 🧠 10 Questions • ⏱️ 150 Seconds

Question 1 / 10 Time: 150s

Color
What gives Banff's lakes their turquoise color?
Louise
After whom is Lake Louise named?
Glacier
Which glacier sits at the far end of Lake Louise?
Moraine
Which valley surrounds Moraine Lake?
Money
On which Canadian banknote did Moraine Lake appear?
Cars
How do most visitors reach Moraine Lake since 2023?
Peyto
What shape is Peyto Lake often said to resemble?
Name
Peyto Lake is named after whom?
Minnewanka
What lies beneath the waters of Lake Minnewanka?
Park
In which year was Banff, Canada's first national park, founded?

Explanations: answer key for all 10 questions

Q1: What gives Banff's lakes their turquoise color?
Answer: Glacial rock flour suspended in the water
Fine silt from glaciers scatters sunlight and reflects blue-green light.
Q2: After whom is Lake Louise named?
Answer: Princess Louise, daughter of Queen Victoria
Princess Louise Caroline Alberta was married to a governor general of Canada.
Q3: Which glacier sits at the far end of Lake Louise?
Answer: Victoria Glacier
It hangs above the lake opposite the Fairmont Chateau.
Q4: Which valley surrounds Moraine Lake?
Answer: The Valley of the Ten Peaks
Ten summits rise above the lake.
Q5: On which Canadian banknote did Moraine Lake appear?
Answer: The 20 dollar bill
It featured on the back of the 1969 series.
Q6: How do most visitors reach Moraine Lake since 2023?
Answer: By shuttle or bus
Personal vehicles are no longer allowed on the access road.
Q7: What shape is Peyto Lake often said to resemble?
Answer: A wolf's head
It is viewed from Bow Summit on the Icefields Parkway.
Q8: Peyto Lake is named after whom?
Answer: Bill Peyto, an early mountain guide
Peyto was a colorful outfitter and warden.
Q9: What lies beneath the waters of Lake Minnewanka?
Answer: A flooded resort village
Dams in the 1940s submerged Minnewanka Landing, now visited by divers.
Q10: In which year was Banff, Canada's first national park, founded?
Answer: 1885
It began with the Cave and Basin hot springs.

Banff Lakes Quiz – Turquoise Lakes of the Rockies

Banff National Park, founded in 1885 as Canada's first national park, holds some of the most photographed lakes in the world. Their turquoise color comes from rock flour, fine silt ground by glaciers.

Lake Louise is named after Princess Louise and sits below Victoria Glacier. Moraine Lake lies in the Valley of the Ten Peaks and once appeared on the 20 dollar bill; since 2023 visitors reach it by shuttle.

Along the Icefields Parkway, wolf-shaped Peyto Lake is named after guide Bill Peyto, and Bow Lake reflects Crowfoot Mountain. Lake Minnewanka, the park's largest lake, covers a flooded resort village.

What This Quiz Teaches

Travelers and photographers will enjoy these questions.

Why the lakes are turquoise
How lakes got their names
Which views are famous
How to reach Moraine Lake
What lies under Minnewanka

Did You Know?

Canoe rentals are popular on Lake Louise in summer.
The lakes usually thaw in June.
The Icefields Parkway links Banff and Jasper.
Grizzly bears live in the park.
Sunrise at Moraine Lake draws crowds of photographers.