Lake Minnewanka
("Water of the Spirits" in Nakoda) is a glacial lake located
in the eastern area of Banff National Park in Canada, about 3.1 miles
northeast of the Banff town site. The lake is 13 miles long and 466
feet deep, making it the longest lake in the mountain parks of the Canadian
Rockies (the result of a power dam at the west end).
The lake is fed by the Cascade River, flowing east of Cascade Mountain,
and running south through Stewart Canyon as it empties into the western
end of the lake. Numerous streams flowing down from Mount Inglismaldie,
Mount Girouard and Mount Peechee on the south side of the lake also
feed the lake.
Aboriginal people long inhabited areas around Lake Minnewanka, as
early as 10,000 years ago according to stone tools and a Clovis point
spearhead discovered by archaeologists. The area is rich in animal life
(e.g. elk, mule deer, mountain sheep, bears) and the easy availability
of rock in the mountainous terrain was key to fashioning weapons for
hunting.
The western end of the lake can be reached by following the Lake Minnewanka
road from the Trans-Canada Highway. Boat tours are available near the
parking lot. A hiking and mountain biking trail runs along the northern
shore of the lake, passing Stewart Canyon and six backcountry campsites.
Mount Aylmer is the highest mountain in this area of the park at 10,374
feet and is a bit north of the lake.
Dams were built in 1912 and 1941 to supply the town with hydro-electric
power. The most recent dam (1941) raised the lake 98 feet and submerged
the resort village of Minnewanka Landing that had been present there
since 1888. Because of the presence of the submerged village, submerged
bridge pilings, and submerged dam (the one from 1912) the lake is popular
among recreational scuba divers. |
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