Pigeon Lake is a large lake

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,...

 in central Alberta

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...

. It is a popular recreation lake, with some shores having sandy beaches and others having steeper banks that are less suitable to "beach activities". Pigeon Lake is located close to large communities such as Edmonton, Leduc

Leduc, Alberta

- Demographics :The population of the City of Leduc according to its 2011 municipal census is 24,139, a 3.6% increase over its 2010 municipal census population of 23,293....

 and Wetaskiwin

Wetaskiwin, Alberta

Wetaskiwin is a small city in the province of Alberta, Canada. The city is located south of the provincial capital of Edmonton. The city name comes from the Cree word wītaskīwin-ispatinaw , meaning "the hills where peace was made"....

. It lies in two counties, Leduc County

Leduc County, Alberta

Leduc County is a municipal district located immediately south of the City of Edmonton. It is east to west and north to south, and has a population of over 12,000 people. The municipal district is home to scenic prairie parkland and several lakes...

 and Wetaskiwin County

Wetaskiwin County No. 10, Alberta

The County of Wetaskiwin No. 10 is a municipal district in central Alberta, Canada, south of Edmonton.It is located in Census Division 11. The County seat is in Wetaskiwin.-Demographics:...

.

The lake has a total area of 96.7 km² (37.3 sq mi) and a maximum depth of 9.1 m (29.9 ft). It has a catchment area of 187 km² (72.2 sq mi), and is an early tributary of the Battle River

Battle River (Canada)

Battle River is a river in central Alberta and western Saskatchewan. It is a major tributary of the North Saskatchewan River.The Battle River flows for and has a total drainage area of...

, to which it is connected through the Pigeon Lake Creek.

It was called "Woodpecker Lake" until 1858, from Hmi-hmoo (or Ma-Me-O), the Cree

Cree language

Cree is an Algonquian language spoken by approximately 117,000 people across Canada, from the Northwest Territories and Alberta to Labrador, making it the aboriginal language with the highest number of speakers in Canada. It is also spoken in the U.S. state of Montana...

 word for woodpecker. In 1858 the name was changed to Pigeon Lake.

Conservation

The Pigeon Lake Provincial Park

Pigeon Lake Provincial Park

Pigeon Lake Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Alberta, Canada.The park is located on the south-western shore of Pigeon Lake. It was established on May 26, 1967.-External links:* - Pigeon Lake Provincial Park...

 is established on the western shore of the lake and is accessed from Highway 771.

Development

Pigeon Lake is one of the most intensely used recreational areas in Alberta, with lots surrounding much of the lake, and over 2,300 private cottages, 10 summer village

Summer village

Summer villages in Alberta are incorporated communities that have permanent populations generally less than 300 permanent inhabitants, as well as seasonal inhabitants....

s and 9 hamlets

Hamlet (place)

A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...

 established on its shores. Among the communities dotting the lake contour, the most prominent are the Ma-Me-O Beach

Ma-Me-O Beach, Alberta

Ma-Me-O Beach, Alberta, is a summer village located on a small sandy beach on the southeast shore of Pigeon Lake, in Alberta, Canada. It is located approximately 100 kilometres southwest of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. The winter population is about 90 people...

, Silver Beach

Silver Beach, Alberta

Silver Beach is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the eastern shore of Pigeon Lake, west from Wetaskiwin.-Demographics:In 2006, Silver Beach had a population of 47 living in 35 dwellings, a 20.5% increase from 2001. The summer village has a land area of and a population density...

 and Grandview

Grandview, Alberta

Grandview is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the south-western shore of Pigeon Lake, in Wetaskiwin County.-Demographics:...

 areas, with Westerose

Westerose, Alberta

Westerose is a hamlet in central Alberta, Canada within the County of Wetaskiwin No. 10. It is located north of Highway 13, approximately west of Wetaskiwin.- References :...

, Norris Beach

Norris Beach, Alberta

Norris Beach is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It s located on the southern shore of Pigeon Lake, Along Highway 13.-Demographics:In 2006, Norris Beach had a population of 40 living in 76 dwellings, a 37.9% increase from 2001. The summer village has a land area of and a population density of ....

, Poplar Bay

Poplar Bay, Alberta

Poplar Bay is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the western shore of Pigeon Lake.- Demographics :In 2006, Poplar Bay had a population of 84 living in 145 dwellings, a 0.0% increase from 2001. The summer village has a land area of and a population density of ....

, Fisher Home

Fisher Home, Alberta

Fisher Home is an unincorporated community in central Alberta in Leduc County, located north of Highway 13, southwest of Leduc....

, Mission Beach

Mission Beach, Alberta

Mission Beach is an unincorporated community in central Alberta in Leduc County, located south of Highway 39, southwest of Leduc. It is located just west of Sundance Beach....

, Sundance Beach

Sundance Beach, Alberta

Sundance Beach is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Pigeon Lake.- Demographics :In 2006, Sundance Beach had a population of 102 living in 124 dwellings, a 175.7% increase from 2001. The summer village has a land area of and a population density of ....

, Itaska Beach

Itaska Beach, Alberta

Itaska Beach is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the northwest shore of Pigeon Lake, west of Wetaskiwin.The name derives from ispâskweyâw , the Cree words for "high trees on the edge of woods".-Demographics:...

, Golden Days

Golden Days, Alberta

Golden Days is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the northwestern shore of Pigeon Lake.-Demographics:In 2006, Golden Days had a population of 207 living in 274 dwellings, a 65.6% increase from 2001. The summer village has a land area of and a population density of .-References:...

, and Argentia Beach

Argentia Beach, Alberta

Argentia Beach is a summer village in Alberta, Canada. It is located on the northern shore of Pigeon Lake.-Demographics:In 2006, Argentia Beach had a population of 52 living in 90 dwellings, a 116.7% increase from 2001. The summer village has a land area of and a population density of .-References:...

. The lake is easily accessed along Highway 13 on the south side and Highway 616 on the north side, between Highways 2 and 20.