Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

 

 

 

Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Maligne Lake and Samson Peak

Maligne Lake Bald Hills, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

 

Maligne Lake (/məˈliːn/ mə-LEEN)] is a lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The lake is famed for the colour of its azure water, the surrounding peaks, the three glaciers visible from the lake, and Spirit Island, a frequently and very famously photographed islet. The lake is located 44 km (27 mi) south of Jasper town, and is accessible by motor vehicle, including shuttle buses from Jasper. Boat tours run to Spirit Island in the spring to autumn season. The 44 km Skyline Trail, Jasper's most popular, highest and above treeline, multi-day hike, begins at Maligne Lake and finishes near the town of Jasper. Other popular day hikes include the Opal Hills and Bald Hills loops. Winter activities include cross-country skiing and snowboarding.

 

Boat House, Maligne Lake, Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park

 

Maligne Lake is approximately 22.5 km (14.0 mi) long and is 97 m (318 ft) at its deepest point, in the south end of the lake. It averages 35 m (115 ft) in depth. It sits at approximately 1,670 m (5,480 ft) asl. Easily visible from the Maligne Lake Day Lodge are Leah and Samson Peaks  and Mount Paul to the east, and Mounts Charlton, Unwin, Mary Vaux and Llysfran Peak to the south and west. The Charlton-Unwin, Maligne, and Coronet glaciers are visible from the lake, which boasts a self-sustaining population of introduced rainbow trout and brook trout. It is a popular spot for sport fishing, kayaking and canoeing. Parks Canada maintains three camping sites, accessible only by canoe, at Hidden Cove, Fisherman's Bay and Coronet Creek.

 

Sunrise in Winter at Maligne Lake

 

Maligne Lake is fed and drained by the Maligne River, which enters the lake on its south side, near Mount Unwin and drains the lake to the north. Maligne Lake, as well as Maligne River, Maligne Mountain, and Maligne Pass, takes its name from the French word for malignant or wicked. The name was used by Father Pierre-Jean De Smet (1801–1873) to describe the turbulent river that flows from the lake (in the spring), and soon spread to the lake, canyon, pass, mountain and range. It is also possible that early French traders applied the name to the river for its treacherous confluence with the Athabasca River.

 

Maligne Lake Panorama and Boathouse

Backcountry canoe trip on Maligne Lake

 

 

Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

Maligne Lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada

 

Spirit Island gets its name from an old First Nations tale, which tells of a Romeo and Juliet-like couple from feuding tribes who would meet on the secluded islet. The woman's father learned of the tryst and barred her from returning to the island, leaving her beau to wait for her there and eventually die, his spirit remaining tethered to the secret spot.

Mythic tragedies aside, it's no wonder that even though Canada has as many as 2 million lakes, this view of Maligne Lake looking past Spirit Island is among the nation's most photographed scenes. Nestled in Jasper National Park in the western province of Alberta, Maligne is among the largest glacier-fed lakes on Earth, its waters pigmented turquoise by powdery rock flour that tumbles down from the surrounding Canadian Rockies.

 

traveler-woman-sitting-on-canoe-with-aurora-borealis-over-spirit-island

-in-maligne-lake-at-jasper-national-park-alberta-canada-