Patricia Lake (Alberta)

Last updated
Patricia Lake / Lake Patricia
Patrica lake in May.jpg
Canada Alberta relief location map - transverse mercator proj.svg
Red pog.svg
Patricia Lake / Lake Patricia
Location Jasper National Park, Alberta
Coordinates 52°54′10″N118°06′07″W / 52.90278°N 118.10194°W / 52.90278; -118.10194
Basin  countriesCanada
Average depth30 metres (98 ft)
Surface elevationc. 4,000 ft (1,200 m) [1]
Patricia Lake Patricia Lake (43014080915).jpg
Patricia Lake

Patricia Lake is a lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, near the town of Jasper. It was named for Princess Patricia of Connaught, a granddaughter of Queen Victoria. [2]

Contents

It is connected by Pyramid Lake road and hiking trails to the town of Jasper, as well as other tourist sites such as Pyramid Lake and Pyramid Mountain.

Project Habbakuk

Patricia Lake is notable for its involvement during World War II with Project Habbakuk, a plan to build an unsinkable aircraft carrier from an ice-based composite material termed "Pykrete". [3]

Initial studies of natural lake ice had been carried out at Lake Louise. In January 1943, Patricia Lake was chosen as the test site for building a prototype vessel. [1] The planned vessel was to be 2,000 feet (600 m) long and the prototype was to be a 1:10 scale model of this. In fact, the beam was to approximately this scale, but the length was only 60 feet, about a third of scale. [1]

Patricia Lake was chosen for this work on account of having rail connections at Jasper and being a suitably cold, remote area that already had military training involvement in the area as camouflage. There were also Mennonite and Doukhobor communities nearby, religious conscientious objectors, who could provide the labour needed. [1]

Pykrete construction material for the full-sized ship was to be a composite of ice and sawdust, maintained by refrigeration. The first experiments had used natural lake ice, in a Canadian winter. The model ship was to use plain ice, but partly natural and partly refrigerated. Construction proceeded through March 1943 by building a wooden cabin on the frozen lake, installing refrigeration equipment and a nest of 6 inch cold air ducts, and then increasing the height of the ice wall around the cabin. As weight increased, the bottom of the "hull" was sawn free from the lake ice and the model floated free. [1] In June the refrigeration was switched off, but the model lasted the whole summer before melting and sinking.

A diving expedition to the site in 1985 [1] found the remains of the model on a steep slope just off-shore at a depth between 26 and 43 metres (85 and 141 ft). Although the refrigeration equipment was removed before sinking, the wooden walls of the hull, an "incredible jumble" [1] of cold air ductwork and also a great quantity of the bitumen used as part of the insulation remained at the site. As of June 26, 2011 only the west wall of the structure remained intact; the rest has fallen to pieces and lies at depths of between 40 and 90 feet (12 and 27 m) in depth. An underwater plaque at the site notes its part in World War II history.

The site continues to be visited by recreational divers. The wreckage has deteriorated in recent years and has suffered from vandalism and graffiti. [4]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pykrete</span> Ice alloy containing sawdust or another form of wood pulp

Pykrete is a frozen ice composite, originally made of approximately 14% sawdust or some other form of wood pulp and 86% ice by weight.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasper, Alberta</span> Specialized municipality in Alberta, Canada

Jasper is a specialized municipality and townsite in western Alberta within the Canadian Rockies. The townsite is in the Athabasca River valley and is the commercial centre of Jasper National Park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Project Habakkuk</span> British planned aircraft carrier made of pykrete

Project Habakkuk or Habbakuk was a plan by the British during the Second World War to construct an aircraft carrier out of pykrete, a mixture of wood pulp and ice, for use against German U-boats in the mid-Atlantic, which were beyond the flight range of land-based planes at that time. The plan was to create what would have been the largest ship ever at 600 metres (1,969 ft) long, which would have been much bigger than even USS Enterprise, the largest naval vessel ever, at 342 metres (1,122 ft) long. The idea came from Geoffrey Pyke, who worked for Combined Operations Headquarters. After promising scale tests and the creation of a prototype on Patricia Lake, Jasper National Park, in Alberta, Canada, the project was shelved due to rising costs, added requirements, and the availability of longer-range aircraft and escort carriers which closed the Mid-Atlantic gap that the project was intended to address.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Refrigerator</span> Appliance for cold food storage

A refrigerator, colloquially fridge, is a commercial and home appliance consisting of a thermally insulated compartment and a heat pump that transfers heat from its inside to its external environment so that its inside is cooled to a temperature below the room temperature. Refrigeration is an essential food storage technique around the world. The low temperature lowers the reproduction rate of bacteria, so the refrigerator reduces the rate of spoilage. A refrigerator maintains a temperature a few degrees above the freezing point of water. The optimal temperature range for perishable food storage is 3 to 5 °C. A similar device that maintains a temperature below the freezing point of water is called a freezer. The refrigerator replaced the icebox, which had been a common household appliance for almost a century and a half. The United States Food and Drug Administration recommends that the refrigerator be kept at or below 4 °C (40 °F) and that the freezer be regulated at −18 °C (0 °F).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyramid Mountain (Alberta)</span> Mountain in Alberta, Canada

Pyramid Mountain is a mountain in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada, named for its pyramid-like shape. James Hector named the mountain in 1859 due to its appearance from the Athabasca River valley on the eastern side of the peak.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lake freighter</span> Ship type

Lake freighters, or lakers, are bulk carrier vessels operating on the Great Lakes of North America. These vessels are traditionally called boats, although classified as ships. They have been used since the late 19th century to haul raw material from docks in the upper Great Lakes to the industrial centers of the Midwest. The navigation season typically begins in late March and ends mid-January, due to winter ice on the lakes.

<i>Arun</i>-class lifeboat Former RNLI lifeboat class

The Arun-class lifeboat was a fast all-weather lifeboat designed by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) for service at its stations around the coasts of the United Kingdom and Ireland. They were operated by the RNLI between 1971 and 2008. Many have been sold to see further service in the lifeboat and coastguard services of other countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jasper Park Lodge</span> Building in Alberta, Canada

The Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge is a 442-room hotel situated on 700 acre site along Lac Beauvert in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. The hotel was established in 1921 by Canadian National Railway and is one of Canada's grand railway hotels.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pyramid Lake (Alberta)</span>

Pyramid Lake is a kidney-shaped lake in Jasper National Park, Alberta, Canada. It lies at the foot of Pyramid Mountain, a natural landmark that overlooks the town of Jasper. It has a total area of 1.2 km2 (0.46 sq mi) and discharges in Athabasca River through the 2 km (1.2 mi) long Pyramid Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sailing yacht</span> Private sailing vessel with overnight accommodations

A sailing yacht, is a leisure craft that uses sails as its primary means of propulsion. A yacht may be a sail or power vessel used for pleasure, cruising, or racing. There is no standard definition, so the term applies here to sailing vessels that have a cabin with amenities that accommodate overnight use. To be termed a "yacht", as opposed to a "boat", such a vessel is likely to be at least 33 feet (10 m) in length and have been judged to have good aesthetic qualities. Sailboats that do not accommodate overnight use or are smaller than 30 feet (9.1 m) are not universally called yachts. Sailing yachts in excess of 130 feet (40 m) are generally considered to be superyachts.

<i>Bonnington</i> (sternwheeler)

Bonnington was a sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia from 1911 to 1931. Bonnington and two sisterships were the largest sternwheelers ever built in British Columbia. Bonnington was partially dismantled in the 1950s, and later sank, making the vessel the largest freshwater wreck site in British Columbia.

<i>Minto</i> (sternwheeler)

Minto was a sternwheel steamboat that ran on the Arrow Lakes in British Columbia from 1898 to 1954. In those years of service, Minto had steamed over 3.2 million kilometers serving the small communities on Arrow Lakes. Minto and her sister Moyie were the last sternwheelers to run in regularly scheduled passenger service in the Pacific Northwest. The "Minto" class of sailing dinghies is named after this vessel.

John M. Osborn Wooden steam barge that sank in Lake Superior

The John M. Osborn was a wooden steam barge that sank in Lake Superior in 1884 with the loss of five lives. The Osborn was just 2 years old when the larger, steel-hulled Alberta, which was called a "steel monster" and "terror of the lakes", rammed her. The wreck of the Osborn was discovered 100 years after her sinking. The wreck was illegally salvaged in the 1980s. Many of Osborn's artifacts became the property of the State of Michigan after they were seized from Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. The State allows the museum to display the artifacts as a loan. The wreck of the Osborn is now protected by the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve as part of an underwater museum.

SS <i>M.M. Drake</i> (1882) American steam barge that sank in Lake Superior

SS M.M. Drake was a wooden steam barge that towed consorts loaded with coal and iron ore on the Great Lakes. She came to the rescue of the crews of at least four foundering vessels in her 19-year career only to meet the same fate in her final rescue attempt. Drake sank in 1901 off Vermilion Point after a rescue attempt of her consort Michigan. Her rudder, anchor, and windlass were illegally removed from her wreck site in the 1980s. They are now the property of the State of Michigan. The rudder is on display as a loan to the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum and the anchor and windlass are on loan for display to Whitefish Township Community Center. The wreck of Drake is protected as part of an underwater museum in the Whitefish Point Underwater Preserve.

SS <i>Hudson</i> (1887) Steel-hulled Great Lakes package freighter

SS Hudson was a steel-hulled package freighter that served on the Great Lakes from her construction in 1887 to her sinking in 1901. On September 16, 1901, while heading across Lake Superior with a cargo of wheat and flax, she ran into a storm and sank with the loss of all 25 crew off Eagle Harbor, Michigan. For nearly 118 years the location of Hudson's wreck remained unknown, until in July 2019 her wreck was found in 825 feet (251 m) of water, completely intact.

SS <i>S.R. Kirby</i> Great Lakes freighter sunk in a 1916 storm on Lake Superior

SS S.R. Kirby was a composite-hulled bulk carrier that served on the Great Lakes of North America from her construction in 1890 to her sinking in 1916. On May 8, 1916, while heading across Lake Superior with a cargo of iron ore and the steel barge George E. Hartnell in tow, she ran into a storm and sank with the loss of all but two of her 22-man crew off Eagle Harbor, Michigan. For over 102 years the location of S.R. Kirby's wreck remained unknown, until June 2018, when her wreck was discovered by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society (GLSHS) in 825 feet (251 m) of water, completely broken up.

SS <i>Emperor</i> Canadian Great Lakes freighter 1910-1947

SS Emperor was a steel-hulled Canadian lake freighter in service between 1911 and 1947. She was built between 1910 and April 1911 by the Collingwood Shipbuilding Company in Collingwood, Ontario, for Inland Lines, Ltd., of Midland, Ontario. She entered service on May 3, 1911. Emperor was sold to Canada Steamship Lines of Montreal, Quebec. Under the ownership of Canada Steamship Lines, she carried a wide variety of cargoes, but most frequently iron ore to Point Edward, Ontario, where it would be transported to Hamilton, Ontario, by train. After the opening of the fourth Welland Canal, Emperor carried the ore directly to Hamilton. She was involved in several accidents throughout her career.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Muhigan Mountain</span> Mountain in Jasper National Park, Canada

Muhigan Mountain is a 2,626-metre (8,615 ft) mountain located in Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cairngorm (Alberta)</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Cairngorm is a 2,610-metre (8,563 ft) mountain located in Alberta, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roche Noire (Alberta)</span> Mountain in the country of Canada

Roche Noire is a 2,920-metre (9,580 ft) mountain located in Alberta, Canada.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Langley, Susan B.M. "Operation Habbakuk: A World War II Vessel Prototype". Canadian Journal of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine.
  2. "Summer Trails Guide". Jasper National Park of Canada. Parks Canada. Retrieved 21 October 2012.
  3. "The Patricia Lake Project".
  4. Link, dry socket vs normal healing 09/01/2019 at 10:44 am Comment (2012-11-12). "Code name: Habbakuk - 'Most Secret'". DIVER magazine. Retrieved 2020-08-25.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)