Calgary·Photos

Where photographers can capture the beauty of methane gas in Alberta

Frozen bubbles created by flammable methane gas are not new to Alberta's lakes and rivers, but they sure are beautiful — and now is a really good time to capture them.

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

Rachel Maclean · CBC News · Posted: Mar 02, 2017 6:15 PM EST | Last Updated: March 6, 2017

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.

Have a great spot of your own? Let us know in the comment section below, or send a picture to [email protected]

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

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.

Barrier Lake

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 did a great job of catching the light on towering mountains in the background.

Lake Minnewanka

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."