ASPEN BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK (GULL LAKE) MAP EDMONTON
Directions: Exit Edmonton on Hwy 2 south; take exit 422B to Hwy 12 west toward Bentley. Distance: 144 km, or about 1 hour and 38 minutes, south of Edmonton.
Info: 403-748-4066; 1-800-427-3582.
One of Alberta’s first provincial parks, Aspen Beach has wide sand beaches and warm shallow water that attract paddlers, sunbathers, and swimmers. There is a boat launch suitable for small vessels and opportunities to fish, hike, powerboat, swim, windsurf, and water-ski. Winter activities include ice fishing, as well as cross-country skiing on four kilometres of non-groomed trails. The day-use area at Ebeling Beach has change rooms, firepits, and flush toilets; firewood is for sale.
ASPEN BEACH PROVINCIAL PARK GULL LAKE MAP EDMONTON Photo Gallery
On the morning of23January 1940, U 19 broke at high speed through the mine warning area off the Farne Islands and immediately found about 20 unescorted southbound ships, including Baltanglia and Pluto; both these ships had arrived in Methil with convoy HN.8. Schepke later observed minesweepers in that area and on 25 January, a similar group of northbound ships came into sight, of which Everene and Gudveig were torpedoed. These ships were en route to Methil to join a convoy bound for Norway. Captain G. Thomas of the Baltanglia said that they had left Methil at midnight and at 0710 hrs were abeam of the Longstone buoy. He stated that the Norwegian steamer Pluto was ahead of him by about a mile and that there were a number of other ships more or less in line. The captain said he heard an explosion and noticed the Pluto beginning to sink by the stern. He was making arrangements to rescue the crew when another ship, in a better position to pick up the lifeboats, dashed past him. Captain Thomas then told the man at the helm to go back on the course, full speed ahead, but just three minutes later, at 0843 hrs (CT) his ship detonated a mine’, the force of which knocked him unconscious for about half a minute.
