I've yet to encounter streams quite like those found in the Canadian Rockies. Being amidst the mountains is already an awe-inspiring experience, but when you factor in the presence of turquoise streams, it feels almost otherworldly. The striking turquoise hue is a result of rock flour, or glacial flour, comprised of incredibly fine-grained rock particles. During the last ice age, massive glaciers, like wheat in a grindstone mill, slowly ground down the rock surfaces of the mountains, creating this fine powder. Eventually, the rock flour finds its way into rivers and streams, where it suspends in the water, reflecting light in a manner that gives rise to the mesmerizing turquoise color we see.
I've yet to encounter streams quite like those found in the Canadian Rockies. Being amidst the mountains is already an awe-inspiring experience, but when you factor in the presence of turquoise streams, it feels almost otherworldly. The striking turquoise hue is a result of rock flour, or glacial flour, comprised of incredibly fine-grained rock particles. During the last ice age, massive glaciers, like wheat in a grindstone mill, slowly ground down the rock surfaces of the mountains, creating this fine powder. Eventually, the rock flour finds its way into rivers and streams, where it suspends in the water, reflecting light in a manner that gives rise to the mesmerizing turquoise color we see.
