Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada

Hidden depths. Ice on Abraham Lake in Alberta, Canada

Dawn's first light is reflected on the frozen surface of Abraham Lake, framed by peaks of the Rocky Mountains. In winter, this picturesque lake in Alberta is famous for its frozen bubbles of methane gas, trapped beneath the ice. Strong winds keep the surface clear of snow, offering winter-long views. Come spring, when the ice thaws, the gas escapes into the atmosphere. Despite its natural beauty, the lake is a human-made reservoir, created in 1972 when the Bighorn Dam was built on the North Saskatchewan River. Its icy beauty in winter and turquoise waters in summer make it a popular photography spot all year round.

Beneath the clear surface, these milky tiers form as anaerobic bacteria digest drowned forests on the reservoir bed, releasing gas that halts in mid-ascent. Hydroelectric operations steadily draw down the water beneath, causing ice sheets nearly 3 feet thick to buckle into deep, luminous fractures. Rising beyond the far shore, the limestone massif of Mount Michener frames an engineered basin where winter power generation and microbial decay briefly align.