Tarn (lake)

Glacial action forming a cirque which may host a tarn

A tarn (or corrie loch) is a mountain lake or pool, formed in a cirque excavated by a glacier. It is formed when either rain or river water fills the cirque. A moraine may form a natural dam below a tarn.^[1]

Verdi Lake in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada

Etymology

The word is derived from the Old Norse word tjörn meaning pond. Its more specific use as a mountain lake emerges as it is the commonly used term for all ponds in the upland areas of Northern England. Here, it retains a broader use, referring to any small lake or pond, regardless of its location and origin (e.g. Talkin Tarn).^[2]

In Scandinavian languages, a tjern or tjärn, tärn or tjørn is a small natural lake, often in a forest or with vegetation closely surrounding it or actually growing into the tarn.

Gallery

• 
  Lake Tear of the Clouds (tarn) in the Adirondack Mountains, New York, photo c. 19th century
• 
  Veľké Hincovo, the largest and deepest tarn in Slovakia
• 
  Lousy Lake (tarn) in N.Cascades National Park, Pickett Range, Washington

See also

• Pond
• Cirque

References

1. "Illustrated Glossary of Alpine Glacial Landforms". Retrieved 2007-08-05.
2. "Fresh Water Tarns". Cumbria Wildlife Trust. Archived from the original on 2007-06-27. Retrieved 2007-08-05.