Because of high and sudden wind and wave action, unstable shorelines, submerged rocks and glacier cold waters, Abraham Lake is not suitable for boating or swimming. Full day and overnight canoe trips are available above and below the lake with Voyageur Ventures and Wandering Waters Canoe Tours.
Abraham Lake is a man-made reservoir, which makes it “a very dangerous lake. As Abraham Lake's water level is controlled by a dam, it can rise and fall after ice forms on top.
When to Photograph Abraham LakeThe best time to capture this phenomenon is from mid December to late January. I'd say that there is a 6 week window of opportunity when the ice looks its best. Arrive too early and the lake won't be fully frozen, arrive too late and the ice might become opaque and slushy.
Abraham Lake has a surface area of 53.7 km2 (20.7 sq mi) and a length of 32 km (20 mi). Although man-made, the lake has the blue color of other glacial lakes in the Rocky Mountains, which is caused by rock flour as in other glacial lakes.
An artificial lake on the North Saskatchewan River lining the David Thompson Highway between Saskatchewan River Crossing and Nordegg. It was created in 1972 with the construction of the Bighorn Dam. Although man-made, it still possesses the blue colour of other glacial lakes in the Rocky Mountains.
To get there travel west approximately 20 km past Nordegg on Highway 11. From Banff or Lake Louise, take Highway 93 to Saskatchewan Crossing before going approximately 30 km east on Highway 11.
There are some beautiful campsites overlooking Abraham Lake where you can enjoy random camping at no charge. Photo by Greg Olsen. It can get very windy beside the lake, so it's a good idea to choose a spot with some shelter.
Most lake foam is caused when the surface tension of water is decreased and air is mixed into the water. Organic materials from naturally decaying plants and animals can reduce the surface tension of water, and when the wind blows across it, or waves wash against the shore, bubbles are produced.
Methane bubbles are formed in water when dead organic material such as creatures or leaves sink to the bottom of the lake, which are then decomposed by bacteria. But in winter when the lake is frozen, the bubbles are trapped on their way to the surface.
The site is open from May Long Weekend to August and is located 170 km west of Red Deer on Highway 11, in the town of Nordegg. The Nordegg Heritage Centre is seasonal, open May 19 to August 26, 2018 from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily.
