Glacier Lake (Alberta)

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Glacier Lake
A Calm Morninf at Glacier Lake.jpg
Canada Alberta relief location map - transverse mercator proj.svg
Red pog.svg
Glacier Lake
Location Alberta, Canada
Coordinates 51°55′14″N116°51′32″W / 51.92056°N 116.85889°W / 51.92056; -116.85889 Coordinates: 51°55′14″N116°51′32″W / 51.92056°N 116.85889°W / 51.92056; -116.85889
Type Glacial lake
Primary inflows Glacier River
Primary outflows Glacier River
Basin  countriesCanada
Managing agency Parks 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 is the fourth largest lake in Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada. [1]

Contents

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

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Mount Wilson (Alberta) Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

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Cirrus Mountain

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Nigel Peak

Nigel Peak is a 3,211-metre (10,535-foot) mountain summit located on the shared border of Banff National Park and Jasper National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Nigel has two peaks, the north summit is the highest point. The nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 6.4 km (4.0 mi) to the south-southwest. Nigel Peak is situated immediately north of Sunwapta Pass and can be seen from the Icefields Parkway and from Athabasca Glacier.

Mount Thompson (Alberta) Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

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Mount Jimmy Simpson

Mount Jimmy Simpson is a 2,966-metre (9,731-foot) summit located 3 kilometres northwest of Bow Lake in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Thompson, 3.0 km (1.9 mi) to the southwest. Mount Jimmy Simpson is a member of the Waputik Mountains, and is situated east of the Wapta Icefield and west of the Bow River valley. Mount Jimmy Simpson can be seen from the Icefields Parkway at Bow Lake. Jimmy Simpson Junior is a 2,721 meter sub-summit east of the mountain.

Bow Peak Mountain peak in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Bow Peak is a 2,840-metre (9,320-foot) mountain summit located in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Crowfoot Mountain, 2.11 km (1.31 mi) to the east. Bow Peak is situated north of Hector Lake, southeast of Bow Lake, and can be seen from the Icefields Parkway. Although not of remarkable elevation, the mountain is a conspicuous landmark and visible from as far away as the Lake Louise area. Its position in the Waputik Mountains provides magnificent views from the summit.

Mount Weed Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

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Mount Andromache

Mount Andromache is a 3,033-metre (9,951-foot) mountain summit located in the Bow River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Hector, 4.00 km (2.49 mi) to the south. Mount Andromache can be seen from the Icefields Parkway as the road traverses the western base of the peak. The Molar Glacier is situated on the northeast aspect of the mountain.

White Pyramid (Banff) Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

White Pyramid is a 3,219-metre (10,561 ft) mountain summit located between the Howse River valley and Mistaya River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Howse Peak, 3.00 km (1.86 mi) to the south. White Pyramid is visible from the Icefields Parkway in the vicinity of Waterfowl Lakes.

Mount Outram Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Outram is a 3,245-metre (10,646-foot) mountain summit located in the Howse River Valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Forbes, 4.37 km (2.72 mi) to the southwest. Glacier Lake is situated 4.0 km (2.5 mi) to the north, and the Sir James Glacier lies below the south aspect of the peak. Mount Outram can be seen from the Icefields Parkway southwest of Saskatchewan Crossing, with optimum photography conditions in morning light.

Hilda Peak Mountain peak in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

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Portal Peak Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Portal Peak is a 2,926-metre (9,600-foot) mountain summit located four kilometers west of Bow Lake in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Thompson, 1.0 km (0.62 mi) to the northwest. Portal Peak is situated east of the Wapta Icefield, and is a member of the Waputik Mountains. Portal Peak can be seen from the Icefields Parkway at Bow Lake.

Little Temple Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Little Temple is a 2,653-metre (8,704-foot) mountain summit located in Banff National Park of the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Little Temple is situated in the Bow River Valley between Paradise Creek and Moraine Creek, 6.0 km (3.7 mi) south of Lake Louise, Alberta. The mountain can be seen from the Icefields Parkway along with its nearest higher peak, Mount Temple, 1.07 km (0.66 mi) to the southwest.

Parker Ridge Mountain ridge in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Parker Ridge is a 2,255-metre (7,398-foot) mountain ridge located in the upper North Saskatchewan River valley in Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Athabasca, 7.7 km (4.8 mi) to the west. Parker Ridge is situated along the west side of the Icefields Parkway and southeast of Sunwapta Pass. Parker Ridge is a ski-touring destination in the winter and popular hiking destination in the summer because it is situated beside the Icefields Parkway allowing easy access, and is nearly entirely above treeline allowing good views of the surrounding mountain landscape. A 2.2 km (1.4 mi) trail gains 275 metres (900 ft) of elevation from the highway to the top of the ridge. Wandering east or west along the ridge provides views of Cirrus Mountain, the north face of Mount Saskatchewan, Saskatchewan Glacier, Mount Athabasca, Hilda Peak, and Nigel Peak among others.

Mount Noyes Mountain in Banff NP, Alberta, Canada

Mount Noyes is a 3,080-metre (10,100-foot) mountain summit located in the Mistaya River valley of Banff National Park, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, Canada. Mount Noyes is situated at the confluence of Silverhorn Creek and Mistaya River, 3.5 km northwest of Mount Weed, and 9.2 km east of Howse Peak. Its nearest higher peak is Mount Patterson, 8.55 km (5.31 mi) to the south. Topographic relief is significant as it rises over 1,380 metres above the Icefields Parkway in two km.

References

  1. 1 2 "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. Glacier Lake in Banff National Park.jpg
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.