Maligne Lake and Spirit Island near Jasper in Alberta
Maligne Lake is a lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. It is located south of Jasper town site, accessible by motor vehicle. Boat trips run to Spirit Island, one of the most popular sights of Jasper National Park. Maligne Lake is approximately km (14 mi) long and is 97 m (318 ft) at its deepest point. It boasts a resident self sustaining population of rainbow trout and brook trout. Maligne lake is fed and drained by the Maligne River, which enters the lake on its south side, near Mount Unwin. The Maligne River drains the lake from its northern end. Maligne Lake takes its name from the French word for malignant or wicked. It is theorised that an early French voyageur created this name and was used by Father Pierre-Jean De Smet (1801-1873) to describe the treacherous river that flows from the lake. The name soon spread to the lake, canyon, pass, mountain and range. The lake was credited with discovery by Mary Schaffer, a female explorer of the region and local icon, after Samson Beaver, a local native, sketched a rough map for her. The first European to actually see the lake was Henry McLeod in 1875 on a CPR expedition. Wildlife is surprisingly abundant along this high altitude lake. Grizzly bear, black bear, mule deer, caribou, wolves, moose, and mountain sheep are some of the larger mammals that frequent the lake area during the summer season. Bald eagles, golden eagles and osprey also frequent the area and live off the fish populations.
Size: 4750px × 3563px
Location: Maligne Lake and Spirit Island near Jasper in Alberta
Photo credit: © Brenda Kean / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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