Lake Louise (Alberta)

For other uses, see Lake Louise (disambiguation).
Lake Louise
Lake of the Little Fishes

Lake Louise and Chateau Lake Louise
Location Banff National Park, Alberta
Coordinates 51°24′42″N 116°13′41″W / 51.41167°N 116.22806°W / 51.41167; -116.22806Coordinates: 51°24′42″N 116°13′41″W / 51.41167°N 116.22806°W / 51.41167; -116.22806
Type Glacial Lake
Primary inflows Lefroy Glacier
Primary outflows Louise Creek
Basin countries Canada
Max. length 2.0 km (1.2 mi)
Max. width 0.5 km (0.31 mi)
Surface area 0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi)
Max. depth 70 m (230 ft)
Surface elevation 1,750 m (5,740 ft)
Settlements Lake Louise

Lake Louise, named Lake of the Little Fishes by the Stoney Nakota First Nations people,[1] is a glacial lake within Banff National Park in Alberta, Canada. It is located 5 km (3.1 mi) west of the Hamlet of Lake Louise and the Trans-Canada Highway (Highway 1).

Lake Louise is named after the Princess Louise Caroline Alberta (1848–1939),[2] the fourth daughter of Queen Victoria and the wife of the Marquess of Lorne, who was the Governor General of Canada from 1878 to 1883.

Lake Louise from eastern shoreline, facing west.

The emerald colour of the water comes from rock flour carried into the lake by melt-water from the glaciers that overlook the lake. The lake has a surface of 0.8 km2 (0.31 sq mi) and is drained through the 3 km long Louise Creek into the Bow River.

Fairmont's Chateau Lake Louise, one of Canada's grand railway hotels, is located on Lake Louise's eastern shore. It is a luxury resort hotel built in the early decades of the 20th century by the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Moraine Lake and Lake Agnes are also accessible from Lake Louise.

Activities

Wildlife at Lake Louise

A variety of hiking trails exist around the lake. Hiking trails include trips to Saddleback Pass, Fairview Mountain (2,744 m (9,003 ft)), Mirror Lake, Lake Agnes, Big Beehive, Little Beehive, Devils Thumb, Mount Whyte, and Mount Niblock. Some of these trails are open to mountain biking and horseback riding, and the surrounding mountain faces offer opportunities for rock climbing. Kayaking and canoeing are popular activities during summer, and a boat launch and rental facility are maintained on the north-eastern shore.[3]

The nearby Lake Louise Ski Area, formerly known as Lake Louise Mountain Resort, offers amenities for alpine and Cross-country skiing, as well as heli-skiing and snowboarding. The lake can be used for ice fishing and ice skating in winter, while the surrounding area offers settings for snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing and ice climbing.[4]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Lake Louise.

References

  1. ↑ "Banff National Park of Canada: What to See and Do - Lake Louise & Moraine Lake Area". Parks Canada. 2011-07-11. Retrieved 2011-09-11.
  2. ↑ http://www.albertacentennial.ca/history/viewpost.aspx~id=249.html
  3. ↑ Lake Louise.com. "Summer activities". Archived from the original on 2007-03-05. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
  4. ↑ Lake Louise.com. "Winter activities". Archived from the original on 2007-03-02. Retrieved 2007-06-04.
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