The Best Glacier Lakes on Earth
A glacier lake is glacier melt that has pooled — usually in front of a retreating tongue (proglacial), behind a moraine (terminal), or held back by ice itself (ice-dammed). Their colour comes from "rock flour" suspended in the water: ground-up mineral grains so fine they refract light into impossible blues and greens.
1. Jokulsarlon, Iceland
The country's most photographed lagoon, fed by the Breidamerkurjokull outlet of Vatnajokull. Boat tours among floating icebergs run from May to October.
2. Peyto Lake, Canada
The poster-child of Icefields Parkway tourism. Overlook viewpoint on the highway gives the iconic teal-blue shot.
3. Moraine Lake, Canada
Smaller and arguably more dramatic than Peyto, with the Wenkchemna peaks behind. Shuttle-bus access only since 2023.
4. Lago Grey, Chile
In Torres del Paine, fed by Glacier Grey. Catamaran cruises pass among its icebergs.
5. Lago Argentino, Argentina
Vast lake fed by Perito Moreno, Upsala and other Patagonian outlets. Boat tours sail among house-sized icebergs.
6. Imja Tsho, Nepal
A rapidly growing high-altitude glacial lake below Island Peak — both a sight and a serious flood risk study site.
7. Lac Blanc / Lac des Cheserys, France
Twin lakes on the Aiguilles Rouges balcony above Chamonix, with the full Mont Blanc range and the Argentiere glacier in the background.
8. Bondhusvatnet, Norway
Below the Folgefonna outlet, with a perfect mirror-shot of the glacier and the surrounding waterfalls.
9. Tasman Lake, New Zealand
Proglacial lake that has grown rapidly since the 1970s in front of the Tasman glacier. Boat tours run from Mount Cook village.
10. Hooker Lake, New Zealand
Smaller sibling of Tasman, with icebergs visible from the easy Hooker Valley walking track.
When to go
Most glacier lakes are at their iceberg-best in late summer when calving has been active for months but before refreeze. Jokulsarlon stays ice-free year-round; Argentine and Chilean lakes peak February to March.
See them all in one view
Filter to "proglacial lakes" on the interactive map to find every named lake in this category around the world, including dozens of lesser-known small lakes worth a detour.