Abraham Lake

This man-made lake sits alongside the David Thompson Highway. It’s a quick and easy detour for those travelling the Icefields Parkway between Jasper and Banff. It’s an Instagram-worthy stop all year-round. In the spring and summer, the waters take on the characteristic turquoise colour of alpine lakes, making it a picturesque spot for a picnic. But it’s in the winter that Abraham Lake becomes really eye-catching. That’s when methane bubbles get trapped in the ice and produce a striking effect. The bubbles are created by naturally occurring bacteria that break down plant matter on the bottom of the lake. (There is more of that matter here because it was submerged when the North Saskatchewan River was dammed to create the lake.) As you walk or skate over the ice, the bubbles appear to be stacked beneath your feet. They will soon be stacked up on your photo roll, too.