Definition

A mountain lake or pool, typically one that fills a cirque or hollow carved by a glacier. Tarns are usually small, deep, and surrounded by steep rocky slopes.

Example Usage

Hikers rested by the pristine tarn, their reflections mirrored in its still water.

Origin

From Old Norse tjorn (small lake), related to Scandinavian and northern European geography where glacial tarns are common.

Fun Fact

Many famous tarns in the Lake District and Scottish Highlands are central to outdoor recreation and appear in Romantic-era poetry.

Source: Definition backfill (hailey)

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