Stop 8
Green Lakes Valley

Looking down Green Lakes Valley we see the characteristic U-shape of a valley sculpted by glaciers. Arikaree Glacier sits at the head of Green Lakes Valley. On the valley floor we see several lakes that are strung together by a stream that runs the length of the valley. These are known as paternoster or staircase lakes. You'll notice dams on the down valley side of some these lakes to store water. Green Lakes Valley forms part of the Boulder watershed and water stored in the lakes is used to feed the needs of communities down valley like Boulder, Colorado.

Figure 8.1 Downvalley view of Green Lakes valley (Photo credit: Michael Ritter)

 

Field Journal
Entry 8

Notice the tongue-like feature at letter A in Figure 8.1 above. You've seen one of these at another site on your trip. What does it appear to be? You might get a better look at it if you check out a topographic map.

Go downvalley a bit to get a better view of this feature and how these lakes were formed.

Record the environmental data into your field journal

Environmental Data (Green Lakes 4)

Site Elevation

Temperature

Wind Speed

Insolation

3,560 m

7.08 C

N/A

539 ly/day

Your finished, head back to camp for further instructions

Or jump to:

| Table of Contents | Stop 1 Lodgepole Pine | Stop 2: Subalpine | Stop 3: Ecotone | Stop 4: Tundra |
| Stop 5: D1 | Stop 6: Isabelle Glacier | Stop 7: Pawnee Cirque | Stop 8: Green Lakes Valley | Wrap - up |

Created by Michael Ritter ( mritter@uwsp.edu ) Last revised July14, 1997