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What was this boy saying?
There's a picture on the wall of the Knik River flowing under the old original highway brindge with Pioneer Peak in the background. It was taken about 50 or 60 years ago. The river is wide and though it flows fast, without any protrusions, it appears flat so it reflects the surrounding landscape. The boy is pointing to the picture and explaining that the water in that river used to be clear and blue before, now it's all silty and grey.
Ok boy genius, that particular glacier started receding 1800 years ago, as a matter of fact it used to be on top of my house at one time. The river, created by the glacier melting, has had silt in it as long as the glacier has, which has been since the time said glacier was created, about 3000 years ago, give or take a few years.
Now, anybody who has spent any time near this particular river knows that the silt is reflective, it's tiny particles of shale, which are shiny enough that they are like glitter. There is enough silt in the water that if you stick your hand under the surface of the river it is out of sight in 1/2" or so. Seriously, you can not see into this water. But it makes a wonderful mirror and reflects the sky, mountains and trees beautifully.
I should also add, the picture was taken way before "true-color" technology was discovered. It's a little bleached and faded, the river is reflecting the landscape but is not and was not ever "blue"
I kind of remember the Knik River being sort of milky, or was that one of the many other glacier fed rivers>
