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Ghost Lake (Alberta)
Encyclopedia
Ghost Lake is a glacier fed man-made lake in Western Alberta
, Canada
, formed along the Bow River
. It is located approximately 45 km west of the city of Calgary and immediately west of Cochrane
.
The lake
lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
at an elevation of 1188 m (3,897.6 ft) and is lined on the north shore by Highway 1A. Trans-Canada Highway
passes a short distance to the south. It was formed in 1929 with the completion of the Ghost Dam, and was developed on land leased from the Morley Indians by Calgary Power Ltd. The lake and dam are primary used for power generation. Calgary Power changed its name to TransAlta
Utilities in 1981.
The lake freezes in December until approximately mid May. Sport fish include Lake Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Lake Whitefish and Brown Trout.
Large fluctuations in water level due to power generation affect the recreational opportunities and biological productivity of the lake. The volume of water being released from the lake and the variance thereof also affect the Bow River downstream of the dam.
The lake has a water mirror of 11.6 km² (4.5 sq mi) and a drainage basin
of 6460 km² (2,494.2 sq mi) The average depth of the lake is 14.5 m (47.6 ft), and it reaches a maximum of 34 m (111.5 ft)
The location brings consistent, strong winds, which make the lake suitable for Sailing and Iceboating. The Ghost Lake Iceboat Club, the premier Iceboat club in Western Canada is located at Ghost Lake. Ghost Lake was also selected as the swimming venue for the inaugural Ironman Calgary 70.3. Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area was established on the northern shore of the lake.
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, formed along the Bow River
Bow River
The Bow River is a river in the Canadian province of Alberta. It is a tributary of the South Saskatchewan River, and is considered the headwater of the Nelson River....
. It is located approximately 45 km west of the city of Calgary and immediately west of Cochrane
Cochrane, Alberta
Cochrane is a town in the Canadian province of Alberta. The town is located 18 km west of the Calgary city limits along Highway 1A. With a population of 15,424 , Cochrane is the second largest town in Alberta and one of the fastest growing communities in Canada...
.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains
Rocky Mountains
The Rocky Mountains are a major mountain range in western North America. The Rocky Mountains stretch more than from the northernmost part of British Columbia, in western Canada, to New Mexico, in the southwestern United States...
at an elevation of 1188 m (3,897.6 ft) and is lined on the north shore by Highway 1A. Trans-Canada Highway
Trans-Canada Highway
The Trans-Canada Highway is a federal-provincial highway system that joins the ten provinces of Canada. It is, along with the Trans-Siberian Highway and Australia's Highway 1, one of the world's longest national highways, with the main route spanning 8,030 km...
passes a short distance to the south. It was formed in 1929 with the completion of the Ghost Dam, and was developed on land leased from the Morley Indians by Calgary Power Ltd. The lake and dam are primary used for power generation. Calgary Power changed its name to TransAlta
TransAlta
TransAlta Corporation is a power generation and wholesale marketing company headquartered in Calgary, Alberta.TransAlta maintains a low-to-moderate risk profile by operating a highly contracted portfolio of assets in Canada, the United States and Australia...
Utilities in 1981.
The lake freezes in December until approximately mid May. Sport fish include Lake Trout, Mountain Whitefish, Lake Whitefish and Brown Trout.
Large fluctuations in water level due to power generation affect the recreational opportunities and biological productivity of the lake. The volume of water being released from the lake and the variance thereof also affect the Bow River downstream of the dam.
The lake has a water mirror of 11.6 km² (4.5 sq mi) and a drainage basin
Drainage basin
A drainage basin is an extent or an area of land where surface water from rain and melting snow or ice converges to a single point, usually the exit of the basin, where the waters join another waterbody, such as a river, lake, reservoir, estuary, wetland, sea, or ocean...
of 6460 km² (2,494.2 sq mi) The average depth of the lake is 14.5 m (47.6 ft), and it reaches a maximum of 34 m (111.5 ft)
The location brings consistent, strong winds, which make the lake suitable for Sailing and Iceboating. The Ghost Lake Iceboat Club, the premier Iceboat club in Western Canada is located at Ghost Lake. Ghost Lake was also selected as the swimming venue for the inaugural Ironman Calgary 70.3. Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area was established on the northern shore of the lake.