Lake Minnewanka 3,845 Bodies of Water There’s no comparing the emerald, green waters of Minnewanka with any urban landscape. Mountain ridges stretch as far as the eye can see, eventually blurring into a blissful cascade of colors.


Lake Minnewanka The biggest lake in Banff National Park, Lake Minnewanka is 13 miles in length and requires an hour-long boat cruise to see it from every angle. Of course, there are also a number of trails around the glacial lake which provide their own beautiful views of the serene blue-green water. Beyond the natural beauty, Minnewanka is also rich in history. It was named the "Lake of the Spirits" by the Aboriginal people that hunted and even lived along its shores as early as 10,000 years ago. The elk, mule deer, mountain goats and bears that they turned to for sustenance can still be found around the lake today.



Because of the presence of the submerged village, submerged bridge pilings, and submerged dam (the one from 1912) the lake is popular among recreational scuba divers. The construction of the dam resulted in involuntary resettlement of inhabitants from the reservoir are.