Rocky Mountains

Medicine Lake

Medicine Lake is quite the geological point of interest. The geologists say it is not really a lake but a giant basin collecting the glacial water from the Maligne River at a faster rate than it can drain through sinkholes at the bottom of the lake leading to an underground river network. If you drive by the 7 kilometre long lake in the winter - say on the way to ski the Summit Lakes trail! - you may see there is much less water. It was a bit of a mystery until the 1970s, when underground river system was discovered, as to why the lake would drain at different times in the year.

Medicine Lake is also a popular spot to see all sorts of wildlife - Grizzlies and black bears roam along the Maligne river, as do caribiou and mountain goats. It's a drive where you are guaranteed to see wildlife. Drive slow and don't feed or harass the park's animals.

This was a particularly cloudy day - the bit of blue sky in the right is about all there was.

albertacanadacanadian rockiesjasperjasper national parklakemaligne rivermedicine lakemountain lakemountainsnational parkreflectionrocky mountains