Inspiring Beauty

No one would probably expect much out of a place called Moraine Lake; especially when it took two hours on the Trans-Canada Highway to reach there from the resort in Canmore. Nonetheless, my initial naive and judgemental notion instantly vanished when I saw the lake; I was simply amazed by the beauty and magnificence of the lake. Situated in the Valley of the Ten Peaks in the Banff national park, the Moraine Lake, like many other famous glacially-fed lakes, has a sense of uninhabited serenity and charm.  However, unlike any other lake, the Moraine Lake is composed of a mix of blue and green colour, as if it's a giant turquoise fallen from the sky or the coloured by nature’s enchanted painting brush. Even though the lake has exquisite colour, the water remains lucid and clear. A simple glance at the lake allows you to clearly see the rock bed of the lake. Behind the lake firmly sits the rugged mountains which stretch across and beyond the lake as a mighty guard vowed to protect the beautiful gem. While viewing the delightful scenery, my family begin touring the trail in front of river. Strolling on the trail, the trees and plants become intricate and delicate ornaments against the vast and blue green background. Smelling the crisp, fresh air of nature and enjoying the calmly flowing water, I savoured every precious second of my visit. After my parents and I returned from the trail, a large rock pile of 25 metres high came into the view. After reaching the top of the rock pile, the entire view and scenery changed. Immediately, every landscape — the jagged mountain, the tranquil lake, and the emerald green tree fuse together and merge as one extraordinary masterpiece of nature. In addition to the magnificent scenery of the lake, the sight from the top of the rock pile also creates sentimental and emotional effects. Gazing at the might of the mountain and the composure of the lake anyone will inevitably be inspired and awed. With the sun shining down at the landscape in front of the rock pile, everyone, no matter how timid or shy one is, will feel like a giant standing high upon the rock pile. To emphasize the feeling, explorer Walter Wilcox said “No scene has ever given me an equal impression of inspiring solitude and rugged grandeur”.  As I was admiring the beauty of the lake from the peak of the rock pile, something struck me; I felt a sense of warm familiarity. Then, moments later, I realized that the exact image of the lake is printed on the back of the Canadian twenty dollars bill. Unfortunately, because of the tight schedule of my trip in Banff, my experience at Moraine Lake quickly comes to an end. Despite the short duration of the trip, I somehow think that the brief stay makes my memory of Moraine Lake extra precious. Frankly, not only had I never realized that the combination of mountain and lake can be this beautiful, but also had I ever imagined myself physically watching this inspiring view. Certainly, my perception of nature and the world evolve to a new stage. After seeing Moraine Lake, I realized that beauty does not necessarily have to be formed by the glamour and grandeur of beautiful flowers or fancy decorations. Instead, beauty can arise from open and serene nature that gives you the feeling of endless confidence and control. No wonder the currency designer shared the beautiful view to everyone through the Canadian twenty dollar bill.