The power of nature is on display in Alberta Beach as piles of ice are collecting on the lake shore.

“It all just came up yesterday. It is not as bad as previous years but it is still early,” Mayor Jim Benedict told CTV News.

He added that it was a month earlier than last year but a different kind of ice.

“This is more like slush that is coming up it is not really hard ice. So it might save on people’s properties.

“There hasn’t been a whole lot of open water so it is not as bad as previous years.”

The attraction has brought in people from all around the area including Frances Szelewicki and her husband who stopped by on their way to Mayerthorpe.

Szelewicki described it as “awesome”.

“I have never seen anything like this.”

Mayor Benedict said the ice started blowing in around 3 p.m. Friday and had accumulated by 6 p.m.

“It is one of the risks you take when you have lakefront property,” he said but added there have not been any reports of damage.

In 2013 the ice caused damage to several boathouses and smashed windows on homes and cottages.

With files from Amanda Anderson