Maligne Lake
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| Maligne Lake | |
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| Location | Alberta |
| Coordinates | Coordinates: |
| Lake type | oligotrophic |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 22.5 km (14 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.5 km (1 mi) |
| Surface area | 19.71 km² (7.6 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 35 m (115 ft) |
| Max. depth | 97 m (318 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 45 km (28 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,670 m (5,479 ft) |
| Settlements | Jasper |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Maligne Lake is a lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. It is located 44 km (27 mi) south of Jasper town site, accessible by motor vehicle. Boat trips run to Spirit Island, one of the most popular sights of Jasper National Park.
Maligne Lake is approximately 22.5 km (14 mi) long and is 97 m (318 ft) at its deepest point. It averages 35 m (115 ft) in depth. It sits at approximately 1,670 m (5,479 ft) asl. It boasts a resident self sustaining population of rainbow trout and brook trout.
Maligne lake is fed and drained by the Maligne River, which enters the lake on its south side, near Mount Unwin. The Maligne River drains the lake from its northern end. Maligne Lake, as well as Maligne River, Maligne Mountain, and Maligne Pass, takes its name from the French word for malignant or wicked. It is theorised that an early French voyageur created this name in reference to the current of the Maligne River near its confluence with the Athabasca River.[1]
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[edit] History
The lake was credited with discovery by Mary Schaffer[2], a female explorer of the region and local icon, after Samson Beaver, a local native, sketched a rough map for her. The first European to actually see the lake was Henry McLeod in 1875 on a CPR expedition.
The largest rainbow trout in Alberta was caught in this lake (20 lbs, 4 oz.) by means of sportfishing. The record fish was mounted and is currently owned by Currie's Guiding and Tackle, Jasper, Alberta, Canada[3]. The third largest brook trout in the world was also sportfished from this lake as well and is owned by David Robson of Hinton, Alberta, Canada.
[edit] Ecology
Wildlife is surprisingly abundant along this high altitude oligotrophic lake. Grizzly bear, black bear, mule deer, caribou, wolves, moose, and mountain sheep are some of the larger mammals that frequent the lake area during the summer season. Bald eagles, golden eagles and osprey also frequent the area and live off the fish populations.
[edit] References
- ^ Karamitsanis, Aphrodite (1991). Place Names of Alberta, Volume 1. Calgary: University of Calgary Press, pg. 153
- ^ PeakFinder - Mary Schaffer
- ^ Currie's Guiding - record fish
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