Lake McDonald and its colored rocks. USA

Glacier national park
National Glacier Park(glacier) it national park United States of America, is on the UNESCO World Heritage List and is located on the northern border of the state of Montana.
History:
Glacier National Park borders Waterton Lakes National Park in the Canadian province of Alberta and British Columbia- two parks known as the International Glacier Park and were recognized as the first in the world international park peace in 1932.
Scenery:
The park is a stunning demonstration of the geological processes that have changed North America over several million years. The rocks in the park are almost entirely sedimentary, having been formed between 1600 and 800 million years ago when this area was an inland sea. The park covers over 4,000 square kilometers and includes parts of two mountain ranges, over 130 lakes, over 1,000 different plant species and hundreds of animal species. These sedimentary rocks are considered to be among the finest fossils from a very early age on Earth.
Flora and fauna:
The park provides many opportunities to see wildlife and its almost unchanged ecosystem. The park is also one of the largest remaining natural habitats for grizzly bears, and during the late summer, grizzlies often descend to low elevations to eat the area's popular berries and fish in the lakes. In addition to bears, the park is also home to two other endangered species, Canada lynx and bull trout. 23 species of fish live in the waters of the park and fishing is very popular here. Bird watchers will find many species of waterfowl, in addition to large birds of prey, including the bald eagle. The park has several ecosystems, from prairie to tundra. Coniferous forest is the predominant ecosystem, although the forests are markedly different on the east and west sides of the Glacier. Wind tracks passing through subalpine meadows are saturated with wild flowers and alpine tundra.Climate:
The weather in the national park often differs depending on the altitude and direction. The west side of Glacier Park has more rainfall, while the east side tends to have strong winds and plenty of sun. The Rocky Mountains disturb the movement of air currents over the North American continent, which has led to a difference in climate. During the summer season, temperatures during the day can reach over 30°C, but at night at altitude can drop to -5°C. Snow can fall at any time of the year. During the winter season, most of the park is covered with snow. Some trails and roads are closed during the off-season.
Fires are also common in the park.
Travel by car:

• Hike to the Solar Highway. The most impressive place in the park is along this road. The highway is closed to traffic in winter and is open from June to October. The main attractions are Lake McDonald, the Logan Pass on the Continental Section, the Rising Sun and Lake St. Mary. Logan Pass is the highest road point near the park (2000 meters).
• US Highway 2 (Hwy 2) runs on the south side of the park. This route is used for Amtrak trains. The view of the forest, river, railway tracks and railway tunnels all together make this place very picturesque.
• Mirror Road (Glass Hill Road, Highway 49) from the top of the hill has a great view of the two lower healing lakes. Also, this path is short (and narrow and winding) to the east side of the park, so you don't have to walk all the way to Browning and back.
• Highway 89 connects with roads leading to St. Mary's Park and Babb Park (lots of glaciers). Continues north where the highway intersects with the main mountain (Chief Mountain) at the international highway. Excellent views of St. Mary's Park and the lake from the northern hills and south of the city.
• Main Mountain on the international highway (highway 17) connects the national glacier park and Waterton lakes in Alberta.
• The two medical roads start four miles north of the East Glacier and run along the north side of the Two Lower Medical Lakes. Bears can often be seen in this area.
• CutBankCreek dirt road on the east side of the park 23 kilometers south of St Mary's. The road leads to the Triple Divide Pass. Where the Continental Gap divides into three paths between the Pend Oreille - Columbia Rivers (mouth near Portland, Oregon in Astoria), Missouri - Mississippi Rivers (mouth near New Orleans) and Saskatchewan - Nelson Rivers (west of the Hudson Channel in Manitoba, Manitoba) . This area is only suitable for adventurers.
• Inside the NorthFork road is a dirt road running from the north on the west side of the park that starts from Apgar at McDonald Lake.
• The Camas Road runs parallel to the NorthFork Inner Road, but is paved. It leads to the Huckleberry Nature Trail. Both roads will eventually lead to Polebridge. This route is paved most of the way.

Entertainment:

• A ride on the bicycle. Limited by bike paths, roads and parking lots. It is forbidden to ride on trails. Bicycle rental is not available. You can ride a bike on the path leading to Sun Road. Best time The day to ride is early morning or late evening.
• Boating. Sea excursions available on many glaciers (Many Glacier), "lower medical roads", rising sun(Rising Sun), Lake Waterton and Lake McDonald.
• Camping. There are several dozen remote camping sites along the trail system.
• Winter leisure- from December to April. You can explore the park on skis or snowboards. Some trails may be closed due to the risk of avalanches.
• Fishing. The glacier is famous for its great opportunity to catch trout. No permit required (except for bull trout fishing).
• Hiking. The national park provides 1100 kilometers of path. Tourists can buy topographic maps and various guides. Available day trips and hikes. Trail of the Cedars, hidden Mountain Lake Huckleberry, SunPoint, and Swiftcurrent nature trails are the easiest.

glacier(Glacier) is a famous national park in the US state of Montana, which gives, first of all, the opportunity to see the snowy peaks of the mountains and glaciers. First of all, this is what they come here for. The reflection of sunlight from the peaks of the mountains is a truly mesmerizing sight. But for a Russian person to visit a Glacier is to find out something familiar and familiar in it.

- This is one of the most remote national parks in the United States, located in the state of Montana, right on the border with Canada, however, it is not difficult to access. Nature does not tend to pay attention to state borders, that's why mountain range is part of two countries at once. In the USA it is known as Glacier, but on the Canadian side it is called Waterton, and it is not surprising that a large percentage of visitors are residents of the Canadian province of Alberta.

In Glacier Park you can see:

• Virgin mountain forests;
• Alpine meadows;
• Rocky Mountains;
• Breathtaking lakes.

For lovers trekking and those who seek solitude in a walk along wild nature, the park has about 1000 kilometers of prepared trails of various difficulty categories.

Glacier Park was founded in 1910 as a recreational reserve, and the development of the park's infrastructure immediately began, which improved significantly after the construction of the famous mountain road Going-to-the-sun Road in the 30s of the last century. Today it is one of the most impressive mountain resorts USA. On the territory of the park there are about 200 waterfalls, 130 lakes, not counting the very small ones, and about three dozen glaciers, which, unfortunately, are rapidly melting. According to scientists, by 2020 the last glacier in the park may melt.

Today, Glacier Park is home to more than 1,100 plant species, 62 mammal species and about 250 bird species, as well as reptiles, amphibians and over 20 fish species.

In 1976, Glacier was recognized as a state biosphere reserve (as in the state of Washington, as well as in Russia), and in 1995, Glacier, along with Canadian Waterton, were recognized as a single UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Park Information

Brief geological background

The sedimentary rocks of Glacier Park, formed between 1.6 billion and 800 million years ago, when the territory of the park was a shallow sea, are well preserved in various fossils, which makes this park unique for studying the history of the planet, since similar sedimentary rocks from that period in other parts of the world are strongly destroyed and changed during mountain building and are not suitable for the study of fossil organisms.

About 170 million years ago, during the formation of the Rocky Mountains in America, significant mountainous areas were shifted about 80 km to the east - the so-called Lewis thrust was formed, which has a height of about 5 km and a length of several hundred kilometers. Today, Glacier has 6 three-kilometer mountain peaks in the Rocky Mountains, the highest of which is Mount Cleveland with a height of 3190 m. And Mount Triple Divide Peak is the watershed point of the North American continent.

Rocky Mountains in Glacier National Park

The relief of Glacier Park was largely formed during the last ice age, which ended about 12 thousand years ago. During the Little Ice Age - the last cooling on the planet Earth (from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 19th centuries) - the area of ​​​​glaciers in the Glacier National Park increased slightly. However, now the situation with glaciers is just the opposite and their area is decreasing.

Basic information about Glacier national park in the table:

Glacier Park map - clickable, click for details

Glacier National Park on USA map

What to do in Glacier

• Hiking. More than half of all visitors to Glacier National Park come here to go trekking. A wide selection of trails for every taste allows you to choose the most suitable hiking route for each visitor, taking into account his wishes and physical capabilities.
• camping in nature. If you want to spend a night under the stars, choose from one of the 13 campsites in Glacier National Park.
• Various ranger-led activities– from simple introductory park tours to challenging hikes and boat tours
• Boating. To do this, you must obtain permission and pass the appropriate check before launching the boat into the water.
• Fishing. Allowed in certain places in the park. No special license is required for line fishing.
• Horseback riding- only allowed on certain trails.
• Skiing in winter.
• Picnic in nature- in the forest or on the river bank.
• Tours in the park with a guide.
• Road trip following the sun (Going-to-the-sun Road), which links the western and eastern parts of the park.
• Bicycle rides through the park, including driving on the Going-to-the-sun Road.

Free shuttles at Glacier Park

Glacier National Park has a free shuttle service that runs along the Going-to-the-sun road between the Apgar Visitor Center and St. Mary Visitor Center every day from 7 am to 7 pm. Bus routes cover the western and eastern part Glacier parka. On the western route, buses leave every 15-30 minutes, and travel time from Apgar Visitor Center to Logan Pass is 1.5 to 2 hours. In the east, shuttles run every 40-60 minutes from St. Mary Visitor Center to Logan Pass, travel time is about 1 hour. All buses are air-conditioned and equipped with wide windows for better view views and attractions from the road-follow-the-sun.

Our review of visiting Glacier Park in the USA

We came to the amazing Glacier National Park to see its beauty from the car window, stop at several observation platforms and go on a couple of easy tracks in the mountains and near the lakes. We only had about four hours to this amazing place, and this is the biggest omission. But even it was enough to feel the full power of the Rocky Mountains and enjoy the breathtaking views and clean mountain air.

Such a short time was due to the time limit of our itinerary for traveling by car in the United States, during which we wanted to see as much as possible. And we combined a visit to this park with a long drive from Spokane, Washington to Helena, Montana. But even during this time, it became clear that both Glacier Park and the state of Montana as a whole deserve much more attention and a separate trip.

Here's what we saw in Glacier Park and we advise you to look:

• at the foot of the Rocky Mountains;
• A trip along the road in the mountains -;
• - the snowy watershed of America.

Despite the fact that the United States has one of the best travel infrastructures in the world, few Russian-speaking tourists come to Glacier Park. Local tourists from other states and residents of nearby countries have much more opportunities to come and see the snowy peaks. But Montana is so far away, and the state itself is so huge, that it will take you a long time just to get here. We set our record for moving in Montana. For those who wish to follow the sun along the road with the romantic name Going-to-the-sun, there are two entrances - the western West Glacier and the eastern Saint Mary. You have to go east for the sun, and that's what we did.

If you have arrived and do not want to ride along the narrow track yourself, then there is a red bus for guests - a shuttle that will stop at all points on the route. True, you will have to travel in the company of 15 people, but it is completely free! But then you will have to return for the car to the entrance to the Glacier National Park where you left it.

Glacier Park Photos

Lake in Glacier National Park

Traveling to different cities and countries, every tourist wants to get an unforgettable experience, to see something new, perhaps even to discover previously unknown facets. Glacier National Park, located in Montana, USA - a place where you completely merge with nature. Mountain peaks, many glaciers and lakes, waterfalls and mesmerizing views amaze with their beauty. Here you want to breathe deeply and not think about anything, contemplating the beautiful landscapes.

According to archaeological research, the first people (Indian tribes) came to the territory of the modern park about 10,000 years ago. An interesting fact is that those who came to these lands at the beginning of the eighteenth century called one of the territories of the park the “Ridge of the World”.

In the nineteenth century, the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived on the land now occupied by the park. Having discovered the Indians, it was decided to build Fort Manuel, which was intended for trade. In 1910, the National Park was founded and the territory began to be actively built up. highways, hotels and campsites to attract tourists and their convenience.

About the wealth of the National Park

The area of ​​the park is about 4000 sq. km (more than 1,000 thousand acres) and this entire vast territory includes two parts of mountain ranges, 25 active glaciers, 200 waterfalls and about 135 lakes.

The lake called McDonald is the largest and is located in the western part of the park. Its length is about 15 kilometers, the depth is also very impressive - 140 meters. This is the most famous and visited lake in the park.

Small lakes are located in depressions, the so-called kars. Many reservoirs have a light turquoise color, which is explained by glacial deposits. The spectacle, no matter how hard to guess, fabulous! During the dry months, many waterfalls unfortunately dry up. The most popular of them are Swiftcarent, McDonald and, by far, the highest Bird-woman waterfall.

The attention of all tourists, of course, is attracted by glaciers. In the middle of the nineteenth century there were about 150 of them in the park, to our days their number has significantly decreased as a result of melting. Scientists study this issue in detail and come to the conclusion that in a few years there will be no glaciers left at all and this process cannot be stopped. This is another reason to come to the National Park, because very soon its appearance may change significantly.

Travelers have the opportunity not only to admire nature, but also to see the most real wild animals - wolves, elks, badgers, wolverines, black bears, sheep and many other different animals. In addition, the park is home to two species of animals that are endangered - the grizzly bear and the Canadian lynx. It is also interesting that the official symbol of the park is the bighorn goat, which can also be found on a walk.

About 1135 species of plants grow in the park, 23 species of freshwater fish live in the lakes, and 260 species of all kinds of birds soar in the sky - the feeling that all wildlife has gathered here! That is why visiting the park will certainly be of interest not only to ordinary tourists, but also to ecologists, biologists and other specialists in this field.

Native American peoples (ancestors of the Salish, Shoshone, and Cheyenne) called present-day Glacier National Park sacred place, and this is not surprising, because the ancient Indians had great amount rites and rituals associated with nature. Modern people like to compare this park with Switzerland and the Alps.

Glacier - not just beautiful place, this is part of an entire ecosystem that has come down to us in its original form.

Certain factors create a huge variety of climates and microclimates in the park. As with all mountain peaks, the higher you climb, the colder it gets. IN tourist periods the maximum air temperature is around 20°C. It is important to note that snowfall can occur at any time of the year, even in summer, which is not uncommon. So those who are tired of the summer heat and want to catch snowflakes with their tongues will definitely like Glacier!

Entering the park, you will immediately feel how clean, fresh the air is here. This is due to the fact that in the areas located nearby, there are no large settlements. There are also almost no factories, factories and other industrial pollutants nearby. The same factors explain the high quality of water in lakes.

Tourist routes

abundance tourist routes allows travelers to explore the territory from all sides. In Glacier Park it is possible to make both a walk and using transport. The most interesting and beautiful trip is the "Road to the Sun" - one of the most famous routes. Visitors are invited to drive 50 miles by car or small bus.

This little adventure will begin from the lower territories, and will end at an altitude of 2000 meters at the Continental Pass. In a 2-hour trip, travelers will see in all their beauty coniferous forests, flower meadows, snowy mountain peaks, and many glacial lakes!

It will be equally interesting to see the park from the air. You can do this while sitting in an airplane or helicopter, which the park staff will gladly provide. Such excursions are very popular, because wild, untouched nature from a height looks very bright and expressive.

For those who want to see the glaciers in detail, there is an excursion on the water. This is a very exciting activity, because each glacier is unique, has its own unique shape and its own color. It is very convenient to contemplate all this beauty from the ship. Of course, I would like to get even closer to the glaciers, but this poses a threat to life.

It is worth noting that the most picturesque views open only from hiking trails.

Where to stay to live?

To fully immerse yourself in the atmosphere that reigns in the park and see as much beauty as possible, travelers can stop at various tourist camps and in cozy, comfortable hotels. All of them are located in picturesque places and in addition to the housing itself, they include all kinds of restaurants, shops, recreation areas and more.

Glacier National Park is a place that captivates from the first minute. Admiring the almighty nature, you find harmony with yourself and the whole world!

Glacier National Park is located in the US state of Montana near the Canadian border. This park is famous for its forests, mountains and glacial lakes. There are more than 700 lakes here. An interesting fact is that only 131 of them have their own names, the rest are nameless. Many lakes are quite decent in size. The beauty of mountains and glacial lakes always makes the heart beat faster. And Glacier Park is no exception.

It should be recalled that this is the region of the Rocky Mountains, and it is extremely rich in amazing reservoirs. For example, to the north of Glacier Park there is Canada's Banff National Park, also famous for its lakes, such as Lake Louise, Moraine Lake and Peyto Lake.

Among such a variety of mountain lakes in the Glacier Park, the most remarkable should be highlighted. This is Lake McDonald. It is the largest here, and is located in the northern part of the park, 40 kilometers south of the border with Canada.

Lake McDonald on the map

• Geographic coordinates 48.591376, -113.914942
• The distance from the capital of the USA Washington is about 3150 km in a straight line
• To the nearest International Airport Spokane about 300 km

Lake McDonald has an elongated shape from the northeast to the southwest. Its length is slightly more than 15 kilometers, and its width reaches 1600 meters. Max Depth 141 meters. The water surface area is 27.6 square kilometers.

The places here are extremely amazing and amazing, but this is not even the main thing. The main difference between some lakes is the multi-colored stones that cover their bottom and coasts. This effect is most colorful in Lake McDonald. Stones of bizarre, sometimes some unreal colors are abundantly scattered around the lake. Reds, yellows, greens and even blues mixed together in a fairy tale.

And if the appearance of multi-colored stones on the famous Glass Beach in California is easily explained by the disgusting unscrupulous attitude of man to nature, then the colored stones of Lake McDonald are entirely the merit of the planet.
Without going into a detailed geological analysis, we will only say that the color of pebbles is due to the content of iron in sedimentary rocks and the degree of its oxidation. So, for example, where iron is in close contact with air, red colors predominate. But green colors are characteristic of stones formed at great depths, where oxygen access is very limited.

But who poured this splendor into the lake? Was it possible that the mythical truck was carrying colored stones for the construction of the rainbow, but got lost and unloaded the contents in the wrong place? In fact, everything is simple.
Initially, there were rocks that formed over millions of years and, depending on the conditions, acquired those very amazing colors. Subsequently, during the ice age, these rocks were ground into small pebbles by giant ice blocks. Streams of melt water brought colored stones to the valley, which was filled with glacial runoff.

Colored stones are also found in other lakes of the park, but their number is maximum in Lake McDonald, which looks very impressive.

Another feature of the lake is its indescribable purity, which puts it on a par with such clean water bodies as, for example, the Verzasca River in Switzerland. The purity of the water in Lake McDonald is due to its temperature, which never rises above +10 degrees Celsius. Such conditions do not allow plankton to multiply and survive here, and, accordingly, this is where the transparency of the water comes from. The bottom here can be seen at a depth of 8-10 meters, and sometimes even deeper.

If the plankton is uncomfortable in the lake, then the fish feel like ... "fish in the water." There are quite a lot of fish species here. Especially trout and salmon. Lake McDonald is surrounded by dense coniferous forests dominated by fir, spruce and larch. There are also many animals in the area. Moose, deer and bears are found here.
For tourists around the lake laid 15 hiking trails different lengths and complexity. On the shore of the lake you can find infrastructure for tourists. These are hotels, cafes and canteens, as well as boat rentals.

Lake McDonald photo

Glacier National Park is located near the Canadian border at the northern tip of the Rocky Mountains. The area of ​​the park covers approximately 4,000 square kilometers, including mountain ranges, hundreds of lakes, massive glaciers born millennia ago, and velvety green meadows spread like flower carpets.

The breathtaking landscapes of the park, founded in 1910, were largely shaped by the movements of huge glaciers. Today, a little more than thirty of them remain, which is about a fifth of what was in the middle of the 19th century. The melting of glaciers is a natural process that cannot be stopped, and according to experts, glaciers (glacier - glacier) may disappear altogether in the coming decades.

Glacier National Park, revered as a sacred land by the Indians, is often referred to as Little Switzerland or the American Alps. This is undoubtedly the best place in the northern United States for summer holidays And hiking. Glacier Park is extremely rich in many wildlife populations. These are long-horned sheep, moose, wolverines, wolves, a large population of black bears and grizzly bears. And mountain goats or deer can often be seen directly from the windows of the most popular, located in the midst of alpine grandeur on the shores of Swiftcurrent Lake.

Visitors to the park are justifiably interested in a two-hour trip by car or on a small tourist bus in bright red with a canvas roof on the eighty-kilometer "Road to the Sun". The road stretches from the lower territories of the park to the Continental Pass, located at an altitude of 2000 meters. This journey will allow you to enjoy magnificent views of the park, take you past glossy fjord-like lakes, past thousands of seasonal waterfalls and dense evergreen forests.

To date, in the territory national park Glacier built hundreds of infrastructure buildings and structures designed to serve the tourist. One of the most comfortable places is a hotel complex located in the western part on the shore of the big lake in the park - Lake McDonald.

Glacier National Park - VIDEO

MAP

Glacier National Park - PHOTOS