Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => Plant Sciences, Zoology & Evolution => Topic started by: neilep on 02/01/2012 12:20:42

Title: Why Is This Lakes' Water So Clear ?
Post by: neilep on 02/01/2012 12:20:42
Wocha Peeps,

As a Sheepie I of course luff lakes. I especially luff Greg Lake from Emereson Lake & Palmer...but the whole family are very nice too !


Look, here's another Lake !

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Another Lake Being All Lakey Yesterday !


Nice eh ?...being delivered next Tuesday as a new garden pond !


Can ewe see how clear the water is ?.. In northwestern Montana, USA, the water is so transparent that it seems this is a quite shallow lake. In fact, it’s very deep. Very deceptive don't ewe think ?


How Can The Water Be So Clear ?


I would like to know and I have a whole barrage of ' clear-lake' enthusiasts standing by for new knowledge !


Thanking ewe


hug & shmish



neil
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Title: Re: Why Is This Lakes Water So Clear ?
Post by: SeanB on 02/01/2012 17:59:09
Slow moving water and enough time that fine sediments have settled out of it. No wind or violent storms for a while, and no large animals or boats to stir up the water for a while. You can see the settled out sediment is coating the bottom, over the sunken logs.
Title: Re: Why Is This Lakes' Water So Clear ?
Post by: Geezer on 02/01/2012 20:43:56
Here is another lake in NW Montana - Lake McDonald in Glacier National Park.

(https://www.thenakedscientists.com/forum/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thenakedscientists.com%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Faction%3Ddlattach%3Btopic%3D42668.0%3Battach%3D15785&hash=10030c9b5c6770d4d6edf862e9cb4dc8)


(I only posted it so you can see the very fine Geezer boat!)
Title: Re: Why Is This Lakes' Water So Clear ?
Post by: CliffordK on 02/01/2012 22:07:48
There are some very beautiful lakes throughout the Rockies.

I'm not sure if it is due to a lack of storms...  I can remember thunder, lightening, and storms on many hiking trips.

I would think there might be a number of things that would bring out clean water, at least from looking in the distance.  I believe some have a tiny shrimp-like bug in the water.

Anyway, there is a close proximity to the source (snow and rain).  Often filtered through rocks (like a sand-filter).  No agricultural runoff, although some of the inlets may go through meadows, but even most of those would be slow flowing streams, usually with lots of plants and pools to filter out impurities, without artificial Nitrogen sources.

Perhaps the cold mountain weather also slows down the growth of algae.

If I remember right, the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness Area crosses the Idaho/Montana boarder.  Most of the Idaho lakes are "Natural".  Many of the Montana lakes have small dams artificially raising the water level.  I think it made the banks a bit brushy.

Oh...
And that first photo is a pretty picture...  But many of those mountain lakes are awfully chilly, even mid summer!!!!  I've gone swimming in them...  about 30 seconds is all I can stand!!!
Title: Re: Why Is This Lakes' Water So Clear ?
Post by: Geezer on 02/01/2012 23:31:27
Most of the Idaho lakes are "Natural".

I'm looking at one of them right now - Lake Coeur d'Alene. It's a natural lake, although there is a small dam at Post Falls in the Spokane River that is used to control the level. At the moment the level is at a minimum to allow for the spring run off.

When the boat traffic dies down in the fall, the water becomes much clearer.

There are two other major lakes near here. Lake Pend Oreille and Priest Lake. All are quite magnificent.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Coeur_d%27Alene
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Pend_Oreille
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priest_Lake
Title: Re: Why Is This Lakes' Water So Clear ?
Post by: CliffordK on 03/01/2012 03:31:23
The first photo reminds me a bit of a lake in Idaho....
Unfortunately I forgot the name.  Perhaps Washington Lake.  Somewhere near Yellow Pine Idaho.
Formed by a mudslide 100 years ago, the remains of log cabins from a mining ghost town are still visible at the bottom of the lake. 
I believe it became part of one of the Louis L'Amour books.
Title: Re: Why Is This Lakes' Water So Clear ?
Post by: neilep on 03/01/2012 12:24:09
I have a boat too !!

Parked it (ok ok..Moored it)  next to yours !!

Hmmm...your's is bigger !!

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