Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada Jan 3, 2024

Lake Minnewanka, Alberta, Canada

For centuries, humans have gazed up at the sight of stars above Lake Minnewanka. The Nakoda residents, who revered the lake for the spirits that they believed reside within it, fished and hunted along its shores with respect. The name Minnewanka comes from "Minn-waki", which translates to "Lake of the Spirits." As tourism began to develop in the Canadian Rockies, a settlement was built on the lakeshore. As the lake was dammed twice, first in 1895 and then in 1912 to reserve water for a hydroelectric plant downstream, the Minnewanka Landing settlement was submerged by the rising water levels. This glacial lake, which is only accessible by scuba diving, is the second-largest in Banff National Park, stretching approximately 21 kilometres in length.

© Ken Phung/Getty Images

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