Glacier Lake (Alberta)

Glacier Lake is the fourth largest lake in Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada.[1]

Glacier Lake
Glacier Lake
LocationAlberta, Canada
Coordinates51°55′14″N 116°51′32″W
TypeGlacial lake
Primary inflowsGlacier River
Primary outflowsGlacier River
Basin countriesCanada
Managing agencyParks Canada
Max. length3.85 km (2.39 mi)
Max. width0.75 km (0.47 mi)
Surface elevation1,480 metres (4,860 ft)
References[1]

Glacier Lake was named by Sir James Hector of the Palliser expedition in 1858 for the fact the lake is fed from glaciers, specifically the glaciers of the Lyell and Mons Icefields[2] as well as the Forbes North Glacier. The lake is surrounded by Mount Outram, Division Mountain, and Mount Erasmus. The lake is fed and discharged by the Glacier River, which is a tributary of the Howse River. The lake can be accessed via a 8.9 kilometres (5.5 miles) trail which starts near Saskatchewan River Crossing along the Icefields Parkway.[3] Park at the Glacier Lake trailhead (at the end of a short unnamed road 1.1 km (0.7 mi) west of the David Thompson Highway turn-off).

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, the lake experiences a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[4] Temperatures can drop below -20 °C with wind chill factors below -30 °C in the winter.

See also

References
  1. "Glacier Lake". Geographical Names Data Base. Natural Resources Canada. Retrieved 2019-09-18.
  2. Place-names of Alberta. Ottawa: Geographic Board of Canada. 1928. p. 57.
  3. Patton, Brian; Robinson, Bart (1986). The Canadian Rockies Trail Guide (3rd ed.). Banff, Alberta: Summerthought Ltd. pp. 124-125. ISBN 0-919934-14-5.
  4. Peel, M. C.; Finlayson, B. L. & McMahon, T. A. (2007). "Updated world map of the Köppen−Geiger climate classification". Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci. 11: 1633–1644. ISSN 1027-5606.
Glacier Lake (centered) seen from Mt. Sarbach. Mt Outram to far left, Division Mountain and Lyell Glacier in back, Mount Erasmus to right, and Howse River across bottom of frame.


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