Medicine Lake – Mysteries of the Magic Lake

One of the most interesting things about Medicine Lake in Jasper National Park Alberta, is that it  isn’t a typical mountain  lake in the normal sense.  It is a geological phenomenon where during summer months, glacial melt waters  along with the Maligne River,  flood the “lake”  to the  splendor that most visitors experience during the busy summer months of the peak tourist season. 

As the fall and winter seasons approach and the melt waters are reduced, the water levels disappear leaving  behind a  giant mud flat  with a select few streams and  scattered pools of water.  The Aboriginals or First Nations people named the lake “Medicine” because of it mysterious “magical”  powers.   In actuality, beneath the lake surface  lies  one of the most extensive and longest drainage systems in the country and could very well be one of the largest inaccessible cave systems in the world!   Through sink holes, the water drains into this under ground cave system ( disappearing )  eventually resurfacing to flow into the Maligne Canyon and emptying into the Athabasca River.  As winter comes to an end and Spring and Summer months approach, the flowing volumes of glacial  melt water  overcomes  the capacity  of this drainage system once again filling the “lake”  to begin it’s cycle once again.

On a chilly mid November morning in 2011, I was fortunate enough to explore the frozen mud flats with enough time to make a few images before the mud began to get soft and, well… just simply messy.  Needless to say I was several inches taller by the time I made my way back to my vehicle and the next 10 minutes were spent removing the mud/clay that had accumulated on the bottom of my boots.

It’s always worth spending at least a day traveling and exploring up and down the Maligne Lake road between Medicine Lake and Maligne Lake.  A new adventure awaits!  Please click on the images for a larger view.

Thanks for visiting!

Until next time…

Fab