Abraham Lake

Abraham Lake is a reservoir along the North Saskatchewan River in Alberta, Canada, stretching 32 kilometers (20 miles) through the mountains. The water reaches depths of 100 meters (330 feet) and glows turquoise in the sunlight.

TransAlta built the Bighorn Dam in 1972, forming the largest reservoir in Alberta. The flooding permanently changed the landscape of the Kootenay Plains region.

The name comes from Silas Abraham, a member of the Stoney Nakoda First Nation who farmed and hunted nearby. The turquoise color visitors see today results from fine glacial sediment suspended in the water.

During winter, visitors can walk onto the frozen surface at Preacher's Point to view methane bubbles trapped in the ice. In summer, the shoreline offers opportunities for hiking and boat launches for exploring the water.

Methane gas from decomposing plants on the lakebed rises in columns and freezes into the ice during winter. These frozen bubbles form white patterns beneath the surface that visitors can walk above.

Location: Alberta

Elevation above the sea: 1,340 m

GPS coordinates: 52.22361,-116.42722

Latest update: December 12, 2025 20:41