Where photographers can capture the beauty of methane gas in Alberta

Frozen bubbles on lakes and rivers are popping up all over Alberta

Image | Methane bubbles Abraham Lake, Sherwin Calaluan

Caption: Sherwin Calaluan is a photographer with a passion for capturing the beauty of nature during the golden hour shortly after sunrise or before sunset. He snapped these frozen bubbles at Abraham Lake this winter. (Submitted by Sherwin Calaluan)

Frozen bubbles created by flammable methane gas are not new to Alberta's lakes and rivers, but they sure are beautiful.
And it seems it's the perfect time of year again to capture them before the next snowfall hides that perfect shot.
The methane is released by decaying organic matter at the bottom of lakes or rivers. If the temperature gets low enough, the bubbles freeze — making for some amazing photographs.
Take a look for yourself.

Abraham Lake(external link)

This is a popular spot, located 90 kilometres southwest of Rocky Mountain House, for taking stills of the bubbly frozen landscape of Alberta's Rockies. Rick Price went out in January, and lucked out with a colourful snow-free canvas.

Image | Abraham Lake methane ice bubbles

Caption: (Submitted by Rick Price)

Barrier Lake(external link)

This man-made reservoir is located in Kananaskis west of Calgary. To get there, take a turn south on Highway 40 from the Trans-Canada Highway. Sherwin Calaluan(external link) did a great job of catching the light on towering mountains in the background.

Image | Barrier Lake methane bubbles

Caption: (Submitted by Sherwin Calaluan)

Lake Minnewanka(external link)

​A glacial lake located northeast of the Banff townsite, it attracts many visitors in both the winter and summer months. It's the longest lake in Banff National Park, measuring 21 kilometres, and the name is said to come from local First Nations and means "Water of the Spirits."

Image | Lake Minnewanka, methane bubbles

Caption: (Submitted by Sherwin Calaluan)

​Spray Lakes(external link)

Located a short drive west of Calgary, and just south of Canmore, this reservoir has tons of day use, camping and hiking opportunities.

Image | ​Spray Lakes, methane bubbles

Caption: (Submitted by Sherwin Calaluan)

Elbow River in Calgary(external link)

And you don't even have to leave the city to capture beautiful bubbly photos. John Andersen sent us this look from under a bridge in Mission.

Image | Methane bubbles, Mission, Calgary

Caption: (Submitted by John Andersen)

Lake Bonavista(external link)

​Leanne Johancsik even found some methane bubbling to the surface of Lake Bonavista in the city's southeast.

Image | Lake Bonavista, methane bubbles

Caption: (Submitted by Leanne Johancsik)