Spirit Island has received a lot of admiration for being one of the most recognizable Rocky Mountain locations in Canada. The ideal approach to exploring this stunning, undiscovered island that has caught the imagination of people all around the world is outlined below.
1. Spirit Island isn’t an island for most of the year
The majority of the time, it is joined to the shore by a thin isthmus, but during the spring rains and snowmelts, the water levels can rise to a point when Spirit is no longer attached to the land.
2. It’s regarded as one of the Canadian Rockies’ most popular photo locations
The fact that Spirit Island by photographer Peter Gale was featured in Kodak’s Colorama exhibit at Grand Central Station in New York City in August and September 1960 contributed to the photograph’s appeal among photography lovers. Since then, it has also been seen on numerous desktops, as well as in the Owen Wilson and Vince Vaughn-starring 2013 film The Internship.
3. When they unveiled the iPad in 2014, Apple featured a picture of Spirit Island
Remember when people used to uncomfortably use iPads to take photos? Apple intended to highlight the device’s improved photography capabilities. No? I guess certain trends are simply too intense for our world.
4. The Stoney Nakoda First Nation views the island as a sacred space
They consider mountains to be the physical embodiments of their forefathers. Spirit Island is exceedingly unique and holds special significance to the Stoney because it is encircled on three sides by the same mountain range.
5. Mary Schäffer was the first European to view Maligne Lake in 1908
Mary Schäffer was also a writer, botanist, photographer, and artist. She pioneered exploration during a period when women were typically not allowed to travel outside of the luxuries of a train car or a five-star hotel unless they were accompanied by a male family member.
6. Due to its topography, the island has very little access
When compared to Pursuit’s four cruise options, which take 1.5 to 2 hours total to reach Spirit Island, spend free time there, and return to the pier, paddling to Spirit Island’s location—on a secluded shore in a chilly lake surrounded by high peaks and glaciers—can take up to four hours each trip.
7. The distinctive greenish tint of numerous lakes in the Rockies may catch the attention of visitors
The farther you float from the piers at Maligne Lake, the greener the water on Spirit Island appears. In fact, the southern part of the lake has a higher concentration of rock flour because it is closer to the glaciers.
8. At Spirit Island, late afternoon is the best time for photography
Snap happy right now? The sun can appear to shine directly on the island like a spotlight at about 4 p.m. in the summer. To make the most of this special time, Pursuit offers it’s Through the Lens Cruise three times a week at 4:30 p.m. It includes a special 60-minute stop to the famous island, all under the guidance of a professional photographer.
9. In the center of a “box canyon,” Spirit Island is located
With a flat bottom and high walls, a box canyon is a narrow canyon.
10. Winters are brutally cold
-50 degrees Celsius is the coldest temperature ever recorded (-58 degrees Fahrenheit). Six meters of snow are often falling each winter.
