Ghost Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ghost Lake |
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Ghost Lake seen in early autumn
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 Ghost Lake
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Bighorn No. 8 / Rocky View County, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 51°12′09″N 114°45′24″W / 51.20250°N 114.75667°W |
| Type | reservoir |
| Primary inflows | Bow River, Ghost River |
| Primary outflows | Bow River |
| Catchment area | 6,460 km2 (2,490 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 13.5 km (8.4 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.4 km (0.87 mi) |
| Surface area | 11.6 km2 (4.5 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 14.5 m (48 ft) |
| Max. depth | 34 m (112 ft) |
| Shore length1 | 32 km (20 mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,188 m (3,898 ft) |
| Settlements | Cochrane, Alberta |
| 1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure. | |
Ghost Lake is a large man-made lake in Western Alberta, Canada. It was created along the Bow River. This beautiful lake is about 45 kilometers (28 miles) west of Calgary and just west of Cochrane. It has a water surface of 11.6 square kilometers (4.5 square miles). The lake is 14.5 meters (48 feet) deep on average, but it can reach a maximum depth of 34 meters (112 feet).
Contents
Where is Ghost Lake?
Ghost Lake is located in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. It sits at an elevation of 1,188 meters (3,898 feet) above sea level. Highway 1A runs along its north shore. The Trans-Canada Highway is also a short distance to the south.
How Was Ghost Lake Formed?
Ghost Lake was created in 1929 when the Ghost Dam was finished. The dam was built by Calgary Power Ltd. on land leased from the Nakoda First Nations. Calgary Power Ltd. later changed its name to TransAlta Utilities in 1981.
What is Ghost Lake Used For?
The main purpose of Ghost Lake and its dam is to generate electricity. The Ghost plant produces a lot of power, about 173,000 megawatt-hours every year. This is enough electricity for many homes!
The amount of water released from the dam changes. This can affect the water level in the lake. It also impacts the Bow River downstream from the dam.
Fun Things to Do at Ghost Lake
Ghost Lake is a great place for outdoor activities. The area often has strong winds, which makes the lake perfect for sailing. When the lake freezes in December, it becomes a popular spot for iceboating. The Ghost Lake Iceboat Club is located right here.
Ghost Lake was also chosen as the swimming location for a big sports event called the Ironman Calgary 70.3.
Fishing at Ghost Lake
If you enjoy fishing, Ghost Lake has several types of sport fish. You might catch:
- Lake trout
- Mountain whitefish
- Lake whitefish
- Brown trout
Public Access to the Lake
The summer village of Ghost Lake is on the northern shore. It is about 3 kilometers (1.9 miles) upstream from the dam. The only public access point to the lake is the Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area. This area is located between the mouth of the Ghost River and the northeastern end of the lake, right next to the dam.
Gallery
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Ghost Reservoir Dam seen from the Ghost Reservoir Provincial Recreation Area
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North arm of the reservoir, looking north towards the mouth of the Ghost River
