Every winter this Alberta lake transforms into a natural wonder as frozen ice bubbles form
Put this on the winter bucket-list!
Person on ice. Right: A frozen lake and a mountain.
This lake in Alberta is nestled in the Canadian Rockies, so pretty picturesque all year round, but come winter it freezes over into something even more spectacular.
Abraham Lake is bright turquoise in the spring and summer, and in the winter it's covered in frozen bubbles that are trapped in the ice.
These methane bubbles are actually created by naturally occurring process at the bottom of the lake. Because the lake is man-made there was lots of trees and grass covered by water, which then decayed and released methane.
You can slide or skate over the ice in the winter and look down has the many layers of bubbles beneath. The more deeply the ice freezes, the more bubbles you get stacking up on each other
What makes this lake especially beautiful is the powerful winds that clear the ice of snow, allowing you to see the bubbles.
It makes for a cool sight, and you' might recognize the lake from Instagram because it's a tempting photo-op.
The lake is right off of the David Thompson Highway too, so it makes for the ideal detour for people driving the Icefield Parkway between Jasper and Banff.
Usually, the lake freezes over in December, but to make sure you can see the full bubble effect your best bet is to go in January or February when it's frozen more deeply.