While on a bus trip several years ago from Christchurch to Queenstown on the picturesque South Island of New Zealand, the driver was kind enough to stop by the iridescent Lake Tekapo. I was able to capture this frame with a group of tourists in the lower left of the photo for scale, which also served to balance the composition with the tree on the lower right. It was truly a glorious moment to witness the striking setting of the luminous lake in the foreground with the magnificent Southern Alps in the background. The turquoise color of the water is created by glacial silt runoff that is suspended at the surface of the water and reflects the sky. Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau). It covers an area of 83 square kilometres (32 sq. mi), and is at an altitude of 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level.The lake is fed at its northern end by the braided Godley River, which has its source in the Southern Alps to the north. The lake is a popular tourist destination, and several resort hotels are located at the township of Lake Tekapo at the lake's southern end.

Lake Tekapo, New ZealandOn a bus trip from Christchurch to Queenstown New Zealand, the driver was kind enough to stop at these amazing turquoise-colored lakes on the way. The turquoise color of Lake Tekapo is caused by glacial silt runoff that stays at the surface and reflects the sky. I was lucky to get a group of tourists in the lower left corner of the photo for scale while also providing a nice balance counterpoint with the tree on the lower right. It was truly amazing to behold the grandeur of this lake and the luminous color in person. Lake Tekapo is the second-largest of three roughly parallel lakes running north–south along the northern edge of the Mackenzie Basin in the South Island of New Zealand (the others are Lake Pukaki and Lake Ohau). It covers an area of 83 square kilometres (32 sq mi), and is at an altitude of 700 metres (2,300 ft) above sea level. The lake is fed at its northern end by the braided Godley River, which has its source in the Southern Alps to the north. The lake is a popular tourist destination, and several resort hotels are located at the township of Lake Tekapo at the lake's southern end. The Lake Tekapo Regional Park, administered by Environment Canterbury, is located on the southern shore of the lake.