Upper Kananaskis Lake

Upper Kananaskis Lake is a natural lake that was turned into a reservoir in Kananaskis Country in Alberta, Canada.

Upper Kananaskis Lake
Upper Kananaskis Lake
LocationKananaskis, Alberta
Coordinates50°37′05″N 115°09′15″W
TypeReservoir, oligotrophic
Primary inflowsUpper Kananaskis River
Primary outflowsLower Kananaskis Lake
Catchment area139 km2 (54 sq mi)[1]
Basin countriesCanada
Surface area7.8 km2 (3.0 sq mi)[1]
Average depth32 m (105 ft)
Max. depth108 m (354 ft)
Surface elevation1,720 m (5,640 ft)
References[1]

Upper Kananaskis Lake, along with the Lower Kananaskis Lake, is located in Peter Lougheed Provincial Park .

The lake is part of a series of natural and man made lakes in the Kananaskis and Bow Valleys used for hydro electric power, flood control, and water reserves for the Bow River water users such as the city of Calgary.

The lake is also used for recreational activities, with hiking paths surrounding the lake (and cross-country skiing trails in the winter).

Hiking trails
  • Upper Kananaskis Lake Circuit
  • Rawson Lake Trail
  • Aster Lake Route (also goes to Hidden Lake)
  • Three Isle Lake Trail
  • Maude-Lawson Trail (To Lawson Lake)
  • Mount Indefatigable Trail
  • Elk Pass Trail (To Fox, Frozen, Upper Elk, and Lower Elk Lakes)
  • Northover Ridge Route

Climate

Based on the Köppen climate classification, this vicinity is located in a subarctic climate with cold, snowy winters, and mild summers.[2] Temperatures can drop below −20 C with wind chill factors below −30 C.

  • Lower and Upper Kananaskis Lakes
  • Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes
  • Upper Kananaskis Lake from the summit of Mount Tyrwhitt
  • Upper Kananskis Lake and Mount Lyautey
  • Elpoca Mountain and the Opal Range seen from Upper Kananaskis Lake

References
  1. "Atlas of Alberta Lakes". University of Alberta. Retrieved November 29, 2018.
  2. 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.


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