Pinawa Dam is one of Manitoba’s most unique landmarks. At over a century old the massive dam is an unexpected change from your typical prairie architecture.
The rushing water, overgrown concrete, and crumbling stone make Pinawa Dam feel like an apocalyptic site that would be featured in a Hollywood blockbuster. Over the decades it has become a popular tourist destination.
While most tourist trips to Pinawa Dam take place in the summer months, it has an entirely different feeling during the winter. The lack of greenery makes the entire monolithic structure seem more abandoned than during the summer.
The frozen river surrounds the dam in a sea of white.
In some places where water previously poured out of the dam, it’s now frozen, forming an eight-foot high wall of ice.
In others, the rushing water still has enough force and power to cut through the ice and snow even in the cold Canadian January. The difference between solid ground and ice becomes hard to gauge as you approach the river.
White snow blankets the dam creating a feeling of isolation and abandonment.
The grey overcast sky creates the perfect backdrop, making Pinawa Dam look even more foreboding than usual.
