Barrier Lake
Encyclopedia
Barrier Lake is a man made reservoir
at the north end of Kananaskis Country in Alberta
, Canada
.
Highway 40 runs between the lake and Mount Baldy
, on the eastern shore. It is entirely located in the Bow Valley Provincial Park
.
Barrier Lake was created for hydroelectric power generation on the Kananaskis River
, the dam that holds the lake back is at the north end of the lake.
The lake is also used for recreational activities, with hiking
paths surrounding the lake (and cross-country skiing trails in the winter). A visitor centre is located on the eastern shore. Two day-use areas, Barrier Dam and Barrier Lake, are maintained by Alberta Community Development
. The Jewell Bay Backcountry Campground is established 4 km (2 mi) from the dam. Water-skiing is permitted on the lake, but is rarely done due to the low temperatures of the water.
Barrier Lake was used in the 2003 film X2: X-Men United
as the stand in for Alkali Lake.
Water reservoir
A reservoir , artificial lake or dam is used to store water.Reservoirs may be created in river valleys by the construction of a dam or may be built by excavation in the ground or by conventional construction techniques such as brickwork or cast concrete.The term reservoir may also be used to...
at the north end of Kananaskis Country in Alberta
Alberta
Alberta is a province of Canada. It had an estimated population of 3.7 million in 2010 making it the most populous of Canada's three prairie provinces...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Highway 40 runs between the lake and Mount Baldy
Mount Baldy (Alberta)
Mount Baldy is a mountain located in the Kananaskis River valley alongside Highway 40 in the Canadian Rockies.During World War II, prisoners in a nearby internment camp were occasionally permitted to make the ascent of Mt. Baldy as long as they promised to return...
, on the eastern shore. It is entirely located in the Bow Valley Provincial Park
Bow Valley Provincial Park
Bow Valley Provincial Park is a provincial park located in Alberta, Canada. Established in 1959 in the arch of Bow River, at the confluence with Kananaskis River, the park is one park of many within the Kananaskis Country park system....
.
Barrier Lake was created for hydroelectric power generation on the Kananaskis River
Kananaskis River
The Kananaskis River is a mountain river in western Alberta, Canada. It is a tributary of the Bow River, crossing the length of Kananaskis Country.The river was named by John Palliser in 1858 after a Cree.-Course:...
, the dam that holds the lake back is at the north end of the lake.
The lake is also used for recreational activities, with hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
paths surrounding the lake (and cross-country skiing trails in the winter). A visitor centre is located on the eastern shore. Two day-use areas, Barrier Dam and Barrier Lake, are maintained by Alberta Community Development
Alberta Community Development
Alberta Tourism, Parks and Recreation is a ministry of the Executive Council of Alberta. Its duties involve managing Alberta's provincial parks and protected areas, tourism, sport and recreation....
. The Jewell Bay Backcountry Campground is established 4 km (2 mi) from the dam. Water-skiing is permitted on the lake, but is rarely done due to the low temperatures of the water.
Barrier Lake was used in the 2003 film X2: X-Men United
X2 (film)
X2 is a 2003 superhero film based on the fictional characters the X-Men. Directed by Bryan Singer, it is the second film in the X-Men film series...
as the stand in for Alkali Lake.