Abraham Lake in Alberta

Hidden depths. Ice on Abraham Lake in Alberta

Dawn's first light is reflected on the frozen surface of Abraham Lake, framed by Rocky Mountains peaks. In winter, this picturesque lake in Alberta is famous for its frozen bubbles of methane gas, trapped beneath the ice. Strong winds keep the surface clear of snow, offering winter-long views. Come spring, when the ice thaws, the gas escapes into the atmosphere. Despite its natural beauty, the lake is a human-made reservoir, created in 1972 when the Bighorn Dam was built on the North Saskatchewan River. Its icy beauty in winter and turquoise waters in summer make it a popular photography spot all year round.

The methane originates on the lakebed, where anaerobic bacteria consume the organic remains of spruce forests and peat flooded during the valley's impoundment. Rising from that submerged floor, buoyant gas bubbles become trapped in layers, creating stacked, milk-white columns inside clear winter ice. High above those frozen columns, Mount Michener overlooks a reservoir that quietly powers the provincial grid while holding the drowned valley's emissions captive.