Hector Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hector Lake |
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Hector Lake, Pulpit Peak, Vulture Col, etc. as seen from an Icefields Parkway turnout
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 Hector Lake
Location in Alberta
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| Location | Banff National Park, Alberta's Rockies |
| Coordinates | 51°35′08″N 116°21′35″W / 51.58556°N 116.35972°W |
| Type | Glacial |
| Primary inflows | Balfour Creek (Waputik Icefield) |
| Primary outflows | Bow River |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Max. length | 5.3 km (3.3 mi) |
| Max. width | 1.2 km (0.75 mi) |
| Surface area | 5.23 km2 (2.02 sq mi) |
| Surface elevation | 1,800 m (5,900 ft) |
Hector Lake is a beautiful, clear lake found in western Alberta, Canada. It is a type of lake called a glacial lake. This means it was formed by the movement of huge sheets of ice, called glaciers, long ago.
The lake is part of the Bow River system. It sits within the Waputik Range of the amazing Canadian Rockies mountains.
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Discovering Hector Lake
Hector Lake got its name from James Hector. He was a very important geologist and naturalist. He explored this area during the Palliser Expedition. This was a big journey to map and study parts of western Canada in the mid-1800s.
Where is Hector Lake?
Hector Lake is located inside Banff National Park. This is one of Canada's most famous national parks. The lake is surrounded by tall, majestic mountains. These include Pulpit Peak, Mount Balfour, Crowfoot Mountain, and Bow Peak.
The lake is fed by water from the Waputik Icefield. An icefield is a large area of connected glaciers. On the other side of the Bow River, you can see Hector Glacier and Mount Hector.
Lakes Along the Icefields Parkway
Hector Lake is one of many stunning lakes you can see along the Icefields Parkway. This is a famous scenic road that winds through Banff National Park and Jasper National Park. Other beautiful lakes along this route include Bow Lake, Lake Louise, and Peyto Lake. You can also find Mistaya Lake, Waterfowl Lakes, Chephren Lake, and Sunwapta Lake.
Size and Flow of Hector Lake
Hector Lake is the second lake you'll find along the Bow River if you follow it from its start. The first lake is Bow Lake. Hector Lake covers an area of about 5.23 km2 (2.02 sq mi). That's roughly the size of 700 soccer fields!
