Paternoster lake
![Paternoster lakes in Darwin Canyon, in California's John Muir Wilderness.](/Images/godic/202502/01/Darwin_cyn0203.jpg")
![Three paternoster lakes connected by streams, on the island of Mull, Scotland.](/Images/godic/202502/01/Glacial_Paternoster_Lakes_in_Mull_in_Scotland0203.jpg")
![The three Thornton Lakes (two visible in image) are paternoster lakes located within North Cascades National Park](/Images/godic/202502/01/Thornton_Lakes_259320203.JPG")
A paternoster lake is one of a series of glacial lakes connected by a single stream or a braided stream system. The name comes from the word Paternoster, another name for the Lord's Prayer derived from the Latin words for the prayer's opening words, "Our Father"; Paternoster lakes are so called because of their resemblance to rosary beads, with alternating prayer beads connected by a string or fine chain.