The people of the city of Canberra know this as well as anybody.

Their home town may be far removed from the crashing waves and sun-bleached sands of the beaches that symbolise the Australian way of life, but Canberrans have a lake.

Yes, it's a fake lake - as man-made as the cityscape that adorns its shores.

And it's a lake that divides Canberra and Canberrans geographically. Are you a northsider or a south-sider? That's often the first question for new arrivals.

But it's a lake that also unites Canberra and Canberrans.

Like some irresistible siren-song, every day, from morning until night, for the past 50 years, Lake Burley Griffin has been beckoning Canberrans from all walks of life and visitors to the nation's capital to relax and play in, around and above its mysterious depths.

A quick lap of the bridge-to-bridge section of the lake uncovers a multitude of ways Canberrans "do" their lake. We stopped counting at 50, but there are probably 50 more. The activities we recorded, and the benefits people spoke of, varied for every individual we encountered.

For some, the body of water serves as the mid-way point for friendships.

Skye McWilliams, of Amaroo, lives on one side of the ACT and her close friend, Michelle Shotton of Jerrabomberra, lives on the other.

"So we meet in the middle," Ms McWilliams said. "Every week we walk around the lake and catch up while getting exercise. It's a great way to spend time together while we give our kids their dose of fresh air."

In-line skater Jack Roesstbakken, of Jerrabomberra, finds the lake is the best place to do his roller-blading when there is no snow. He skates the 21-kilometre loop two or three times each week.

"The lake is safer than the roads," he says. "Except for my first time when I fell into the rose gardens and had to be pulled back out again."

And where else in the world can you encounter the Prime Minister while you're exercising?

Mr Roesstbakken remembers the time he was doing the loop with a friend who was on a bike.

"We scared Rudd once down at the park, yelling at him to 'Get out of the way we are coming through on bikes and roller-blades' and he quickly jumped out of the way for us," he laughs.

For Kingston's Monica Conley and her dog Koda, the lake is more than a weekly or even daily devotion.

"We walk the lake twice a day," she says. "Koda loves making new friends and I love the exercise. People are friendly."

Why twice a day? "It makes us both happy".

WHAT OUR LAKE LOVERS SAID

"There's a lot to look at, a lot to admire. It's just got a really nice vibe to it."

"It's so beautiful down by the water. It's one of the only places to be near the water."

"It's really motivating to get outside."

"A lot of the time we spend here is indoors in museums and things so it's always nice to get out."

"The trees around it. It's lovely."

"It's nice to look at the water."

"Fresh air, stretch the legs and it's a beautiful view, especially when the flowers are out."

"It's peaceful. No motorboats, no water skiers, no scooters. It's peaceful and it's pleasant. Water does something to you."

"The lake's a nice, flat, easy ride."

"It clears the head. I live in a flat and I don't have a garden so the lake is the closest thing that I have to getting out and relaxing, sitting on the grass, looking at the water."

"Every time you come it changes."

"When you go around the lake you can't just think 'Well, that's long enough today', you've got to keep walking."

"We're in our 70s ... and have been doing it forever."

"It's therapeutic. Whether you're with a group or by yourself."

"I try to get down two to three times a week."

"The lake is safer than the roads. Except for my first time when I fell into the rose gardens and had to be pulled back out again."