View source for Peyto Lake

{{Short description|Lake in Alberta, Canada}}
{{Infobox body of water
 | name = Peyto Lake
 | image = Peyto Lake June 2018.jpg
 | caption = 
 | image_bathymetry =
 | caption_bathymetry =
 | location = [[Banff National Park]], Alberta, Canada
 | coords = {{coord|51|43|37|N|116|31|19|W|region:CA-AB_type:waterbody|display=inline,title}}
 | type = [[Glacial lake|Glacial]]
 | inflow = Peyto Creek
 | pushpin_map=Alberta
 | pushpin_mapsize=200
 | pushpin_relief=no
 | outflow = [[Mistaya River]]
 | catchment =
 | basin_countries = Canada
 | length = {{convert|2.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}
 | width = {{convert|0.8|km|mi|abbr=on}}
 | area = {{convert|1.4|km2|mi2|abbr=on}}
 | depth =
 | max-depth =
 | volume =
 | residence_time =
 | shore =
 | elevation = {{convert|1860|m|ft|abbr=on}}
 | islands =
 | cities =
}}
'''Peyto Lake''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|p|iː|t|oʊ}} {{respell|PEE|toh}}) is a [[glacier]]-fed [[lake]] in [[Banff National Park]] in the [[Canadian Rockies]]. The lake is near the [[Icefields Parkway]]. It was named for [[Bill Peyto]], an early trail guide and trapper in the Banff area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canadianrockies.net/banff/bowsummt.html | title=Lake Louise to Bow Summit|website=canadianrockes.net| date=25 February 2009|access-date=2020-11-19}}</ref>

The lake is formed in a valley of the [[Waputik Range]], between [[Caldron Peak]], [[Peyto Peak]] and [[Mount Jimmy Simpson]], at an elevation of {{convert|1860|m|ft|abbr=on}}.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/canadianmountain0000bole|title=Canadian mountain place names : the Rockies and Columbia Mountains|last=W.|first=Boles, Glen|date=2006|publisher=Rocky Mountain Books|others=Laurilla, Roger W., 1959-, Putnam, William Lowell., Putnam, William Lowell. Place names of the Canadian Alps.|isbn=9781894765794|location=Calgary, Alta.|oclc=244770225|url-access=registration}}</ref>

During the summer, significant amounts of glacial [[rock flour]] flow into the lake from a nearby glacier, and these suspended rock particles are what give the lake a bright, turquoise colour. Because of its bright colour, photos of the lake often{{when|date=July 2022}} appear in illustrated books,{{example needed|date=July 2022}} and the area around the lake is a popular sightseeing spot. In 2021, [[Parks Canada]] completed improvements to the lake viewpoint, trails, and parking areas.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/construction-banff/peyto|title=Improvements at Peyto Lake|publisher=[[Parks Canada]]|accessdate=7 October 2021|archive-date=29 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929202659/https://www.pc.gc.ca/en/pn-np/ab/banff/visit/construction-banff/peyto|url-status=dead}}</ref> The lake is best seen from Bow Summit, the highest point on the Icefields Parkway.<ref>[http://www.moon.com/planner/canadian_rockies/mustsees/peytolake.html Peyto Lake, The Canadian Rockies<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080422085301/http://www.moon.com/planner/canadian_rockies/mustsees/peytolake.html |date=2008-04-22 }}</ref>

The lake is fed by Peyto Creek, which drains water from Caldron Lake and [[Peyto Glacier]] (part of the [[Wapta Icefield]]). Peyto Lake is the origin of the [[Mistaya River]],<ref>[http://www.colonialvoyage.com/viaggi/canadabanffpeyto.html MISTAYA CANYON and PEYTO LAKE: Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada: ALONG THE ICEFIELD PARKWAY<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> which heads northwest from the lake's outflow.

[[File:1_peyto_lake_pano_2019.jpg|thumb|center|x180px|Peyto Lake seen from Bow Summit]]

== References ==
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==External links==
*{{Commons-inline}}
*{{Wikivoyage inline}}

{{Alberta rivers and lakes}}

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[[Category:Banff National Park]]
[[Category:Lakes of Alberta]]
[[Category:Glacial lakes of Canada]]


{{AlbertaRockies-geo-stub}}