Big Lake (Alberta)

Big Lake
Big Lake
Location	Sturgeon County / Parkland County, near Edmonton, Alberta
Coordinates	53°35′50″N 113°42′57″W / 53.59722°N 113.71583°W / 53.59722; -113.71583
Lake type	Eutrophic lake
Primary inflows	Sturgeon River Atim Creek
Primary outflows	Sturgeon River
Basin countries	Canada
Surface area	21.4 km2 (8.3 sq mi)
Average depth	0.3 m (1 ft 0 in)
Max. depth	4.1 m (13 ft)
Surface elevation	650 m (2,130 ft)
Settlements	Edmonton, St. Albert
References	[1]

Big Lake is a lake in Edmonton metropolitan region, Canada. It is located adjacent to the northwest corner of Edmonton and the southwest corner of St. Albert. Its primary inflow is the Sturgeon River. The lake sits on the sands and gravels of the Empress Formation, an aquifer 30 m (98 ft) below its surface that was laid down by retreating glacial meltwaters.

Big Lake is part of the 260 km (160 mi) long Sturgeon River that begins at Hoople Lake and flows east to the North Saskatchewan River. Atim Creek flows into Big Lake from the west and Carrot Creek from the north.

Big Lake is home to as much as 235 different types of birds. The western bay of the lake provides rare nesting habitat for Franklin's gulls. The Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park is established on the shore of the lake.