Canadian National Parks exemplify climate change

Sam Huray|September 19, 2019

Sam Huray

The Canadian National Parks are famous for their crystal blue waters. This photo pictures Peyto Lake, which resides in Banff National Park. It is one of the most famous lakes in the country. Years ago, a magnificent glacier reached the shore of this lake, but due to a number of factors, including climate change, the glacier has receded up the nearby mountains.

Centuries ago in Canada, gigantic glaciers covered the surface of the country. Today, the valleys in between the Rocky Mountains in Alberta and British Columbia can be used as evidence for how large these glaciers once were. Glaciers have been a major talking point in the discussion of climate change, mainly because they provide a visual representation of the warming of our planet. Glacier National Park in Montana has lost 120 glaciers in the last century according to the U.S. Geological Survey, and the glaciers pictured below have receded to the point where they will disappear in the near future. This is detrimental to the Earth’s freshwater supply and certain species of plants and animals that will lose an integral part of their habitat.

All Photos by Sam Huray

Pictured above is Lake Louise, a popular vacation spot and ski resort area in Banff National Park. Towards the back of the picture, you can see the Victoria Glacier, one of the many glaciers that surround the lake. Silt is created when rocks underneath the glacier start grinding against each other. The silt stays suspended in the lake for long periods of time, and when the sunlight reflects against the surface of the water, the notable turquoise blue water is created. This beautiful sight is one of the few benefits of climate change.
The Columbia Icefield contains some of the more prominent glaciers along the Icefield Parkway in Alberta, Canada. Many of the glaciers in the area have receded to create the beautiful lakes shown in this photo collection, but even though the glaciers here have receded, they still encompass a large area and connect behind the mountains pictured above.
The glacier pictured above is Angel Glacier in the Edith Cavell area (Jasper National Park). You can clearly see the water running from the melting glacier and landing in the small pool below. The glaciers in this area receded to create a lush forest that houses numerous grizzly bears.
This photo clearly demonstrates the power of water. The rushing river pictured above spent years carving through rock to create deep canyons and small waterfalls. The river is surrounded by lush trees and steep mountains, clearly demonstrating a gorgeous landscape that could possibly be hurt by the warming of the planet.