Oft on a clear, fresh summer morn
I’ve stood as one deep-rooted to the ground
And gazed and gazed upon its loveliness;
Taking a deep draught to my thirsty soul.
It was the lake of many colors and I thought
No man can rob me of this gem – all else may go;
Sports, pleasures pastimes – but this will remain
Constant in friendship and unfailing cheer;
Leave it, come back to it – ‘tis always dear.
Most Eastern Races have a strong belief
That woodland, mountain, lake and stream
Has each its own inhabitant –
Sprite, gnome or fairy – if that’s so
That Lake of Many Colors must enshrine
Some super-spirit, beautiful Divine.
… A. V. Despard1
Kalamalka Lake, commonly known as The Lake of Many Colours2
1 A. V. Despard in Songs of Kalamalka, Collected and arranged by Dorothea Allison, Oyama, BC: Vernon News Ltd. Printers, 1944, p.8.
2 David Madison. Aerial Imaging. Kaloya Park on Kalamalka Lake in Lake Country (Oyama). Photo available through the Lake Country Museum & Archives’ David Madison Album.
I am so thrilled to see this photograph with all the turquoise — is this because of all the glacial clay at the bottom? WE love this lake and so do every one of our visitors — thousands of photos taken for sure.
Sharon Leveque
Yes, Sharon, Kalamalka Lake is beautiful!
With regard to the colouration of the Lake you may want to refer to a previous blog post Why is Kal Lake green? by Carmen Weld of Castanet.