Believe it or not, one of the province's most beautiful regions is right around a terrifying Albertan ghost town. It's an old mining settlement and its previous inhabitants jumped ship after the switch from coal to diesel. Now, only a few skeletal buildings remain — but the town is far from lonely, with tons of visitors coming from all over for its jaw-dropping lakes. Visiting the actual town of Nordegg, Alberta is a super surreal experience. Established over a century ago in 1911, the mining colony has since been declared a National Historic Site. It's located just over three hours from Edmonton. Editor's Choice: Ontario’s Twinkling Floral Boardwalk Will Make You Feel Like You’re In A Fairytale You can tour the crumbling ruins of the mining operation and tiny settlement in the summer. The experience is spooky, to say the least; buildings are falling apart, complete with rotting boards and creaking floors. The giant mining equipment speckled with rust almost seems alive when looked at from a certain angle. When you're sufficiently spooked, decompress by walking to one of the many gorgeous lakes in the area. The Abraham, Gold Eye, and Shunda Lakes are all super close and equally breathtaking. You definitely need to drop by Abraham Lake at the very least. Its waters are so blue, you'd think the sky rained Gatorade. View this post on Instagram "Hey Van, do you wanna go see a dead body?" ☠️ #StandByMe #Sincerely #TravelAlberta #Nordegg A post shared by Erin Shaw (@eqshaw) on Jul 30, 2017 at 1:45pm PDT Believe it or not, the massive body of water is entirely manmade. It was built in 1972 along with the Bighorn Dam but stuck around for visitors to marvel. Its shocking blue colour is due to the presence of rock flour in the water — super fine particles caused by erosion. While the water isn't quite as blue, Gold Eye lake is also beautiful, and a great spot for camping. If you somehow grow bored of touring the beautiful lakes, the region also has plenty of amazing trails and waterfalls to explore as well. Ram Falls is a must-see, for example. View this post on Instagram Industrialphile paradise A post shared by @ joannaefrafa on Dec 26, 2018 at 10:12am PST There are few places in the province with so much character and adventure rolled into one. This place is definitely one of the coolest areas in Alberta. Nordegg Address: Nordegg, AB Why You Need To Go: Check out this spooky ghost town right next to several gorgeous lakes. That's a win-win if we've ever heard one. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Shylo Dawn Prince Courtoreille (@anxiety_lives_here) on Jul 14, 2019 at 1:13pm PDT Website We strongly advise that before you go swimming or visit any location, you check the most recent updates on potential hazards, security, water quality, and closures. If you do plan to visit a location, respect the environment and obey any local laws.
