Alberta is home to some seriously beautiful lakes, but the names of some of them are just as interesting as the scenery. From Driedmeat Lake to Lac La Nonne, the province has plenty of lake names that might just make you do a double-take. And, as it turns out, there’s a story behind each one.
Here’s a look at five Alberta lakes with memorable names and the history behind how they came to be.
First up is Driedmeat Lake, and yes, that really is its official name. According to Tourism Camrose, the name dates back to the Cree people who used the area around the lake and nearby Driedmeat Hill to prepare food.
The hill was used to dry bison meat and fish, and the meat was also used to make pemmican. The name eventually stuck to both the hill and the lake.
Where: Tillicum Beach Park and Campground – 3775 43rd Ave., Camrose Country, Alta.
Smoky Lake is another Alberta name that sounds a little mysterious, but its origin is actually pretty straightforward. According to the Town of Smoky Lake, the name is an English translation of the Cree kaskapatau sakahigan, referring to a smoke-like vapour that was said to rise from the lake and obscure the opposite shore.
Explorer Alexander Henry the Younger noted the same phenomenon in 1810, recording the lake as “Lac qui Fume,” or “the lady who smokes.”
Where: Directions to Smoky Lake
One of the more unusual names you’ll come across is Lac La Nonne, which directly translates to “the nun” in French. The lake is located in central Alberta, about 80 kilometres northwest of Edmonton. And while you might assume the name refers to a person or a religious community, one theory behind it actually involves a bird.
According to the Summer Village of Birch Cove, the name comes from the white-winged scoter, which was found on the lake and resembles a type of duck known in England as “the nun.”
Where: Directions to Lac la Nonne
The name Skeleton Lake comes from the Cree name Cîpay Sâkâhikan, which translates to “places of the skeletons.” According to Skeleton Lake, the name is tied to a Cree legend that a chief was buried along the lake’s shores.
The lake is located in Athabasca County, about 6 kilometres northeast of Boyle, and has since become a popular spot for cottages, fishing and other recreational activities.
Where: Directions to Skeleton Lake
Now you might be wondering what pigeons have to do with a lake in Alberta, and the answer goes back to a time when the birds were far more common in the area. Pigeon Lake was originally known as Woodpecker Lake, but the name was changed in 1858.
The new name was believed to come from the enormous flocks of passenger pigeons that once gathered around the lake. The birds were so abundant that their flocks could number in the tens or thousands. Today, the passenger pigeon is extinct, but its connection to the lake lives on in the name.
Where: Directions to Pigeon Lake
So next time you spot one of these names on a road trip, you’ll have a few fun facts up your sleeve to impress your friends with how they came to be.
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Kaiya Williams
Kaiya is a Calgary-based writer and content creator with a background in marketing and digital storytelling. She has a passion for community-driven stories and covering local experiences that connect people.
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