Gull Lake (Alberta)
| Gull Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lacombe County / Ponoka County, Alberta |
| Coordinates | 52°32′30″N 114°00′27″W / 52.54167°N 114.00750°WCoordinates: 52°32′30″N 114°00′27″W / 52.54167°N 114.00750°W |
| Primary outflows | Blindman River |
| Catchment area | 206 km2 (80 sq mi) |
| Basin countries | Canada |
| Surface area | 80.6 km2 (31.1 sq mi) |
| Average depth | 5.4 m (18 ft) |
| Max. depth | 8 m (26 ft) |
| Residence time | >100 years |
| Surface elevation | 899 m (2,949 ft) |
| Settlements | Gull Lake |
| References | |
Gull Lake is a large lake in central Alberta, Canada. It is a popular recreational lake with its southern shores boasting large sandy beaches. Gull Lake is centrally located between Edmonton and Calgary and lies in two counties, Ponoka County and Lacombe County. The lake is accessed west of Ponoka on Highway 53 to get to the north side, or west of Lacombe on Highway 12 to reach the southern shores.
It has a total surface of 80.6 square kilometres (31.1 sq mi), and a maximum depth of 8 metres (26 ft). It has a catchment area of 206 km2 (79.5 sq mi). Several area streams including Birch Bay Creek and Wilson Creek flow into Gull Lake. Its waters drain through a creek into the Blindman River and then in the Red Deer River.
The summer village of Gull Lake is developed on the southern shore, adjacent to Aspen Beach Provincial Park, along Highway 12. Several campgrounds are located around the shores of the lake including Aspen Beach Brewers and Lakeview Provincial Park, Raymond Shores, and Degraffs Resort. Sylvan Lake is located 20 km (12 mi) south from Gull Lake. Gull Lake is a large, shallow lake located west of the City of Lacombe in the counties of Ponoka and Lacombe. Because it is situated between the cities of Edmonton and Calgary, Gull Lake is accessible to large numbers of people. Its clear water and sandy beaches contribute to its popularity, and the lake is heavily used on warm, sunny weekends. To reach the lake, take Highway 2 from Edmonton or Calgary to Lacombe, then turn west on Highway 12 and drive for 14 km to the summer village of Gull Lake (Fig. 1).
Homesteaders first settled the region south and west of Gull Lake in about 1895; many of these people came from the United States. By 1902, most of the land had been settled and a lumber industry had been established. A 26-m-long steamboat built in 1898 was used in a sawmill operation at Birch Bay on the northwest shore of Gull Lake (Coulton 1975). Passengers were often carried on this and other steamboats on the lake. By 1904, there was a second steamer and the area was already known as a summer resort.
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