Rock Lake (Wisconsin) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rock Lake |
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View of Rock lake from a country park
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 Rock Lake
Location in Wisconsin
Rock Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States |
| Coordinates | 43°04′53″N 88°55′54″W / 43.08139°N 88.93167°W |
| Basin countries | United States |
Rock Lake is a beautiful lake located in Southeast Wisconsin, United States. It's a popular spot for outdoor activities and is known for some interesting stories about its past. The lake is found near Lake Mills, Wisconsin, in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. It's about 20 miles (32 km) east of Madison, a bigger city.
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Exploring Rock Lake's Geography
Rock Lake is a fairly large lake, covering about 1,365 acres. At its deepest point, it goes down 60 feet (18.3 meters). The lake has a unique shape, a bit like a figure eight, with different areas to explore.
- Marshy South: To the south of the main lake, there's a protected marsh area called Bean Lake State Natural Area. It's a special place for plants and wildlife.
- Plant-Filled West: In the southwestern part of the lake, you'll often see tall water plants growing right out of the water.
- Sandy North: The northwestern part of the lake has a sandy area. Many boats like to anchor here, and it's a great spot for swimming!
A cool path called the Glacial Drumlin State Trail crosses the southern part of the lake. It uses an old railroad bridge, which separates the lake from the marsh area to the south.
Mysteries of Rock Lake: Pyramid Claims
Rock Lake is famous for something quite mysterious: underwater rock piles! People often claim these piles look like pyramids. They believe these might have been built by the Mississippian culture a long, long time ago, when the lake's water levels were much lower.
Interestingly, there are actual pyramid-shaped mounds just three miles (5 km) east of Rock Lake. You can find them at Aztalan State Park, which is on the Crawfish River. These mounds are thought to have been built by the Mississippian culture. Some experts think the site at Aztalan might have been a northern outpost of Cahokia. Cahokia was a much larger ancient city located in what is now Illinois, near St. Louis, Missouri.
The waters of Rock Lake have also been called "Tyranena" (Tie-ra-nee-na). This old name is still used in the area today for businesses, road names, and even a park right on the lake!
Beaches for Fun
If you love swimming or just relaxing by the water, Rock Lake has two public beaches. Both Bartel's Beach and Sandy Beach are located on the southeastern side of the lake. They are perfect spots to enjoy a sunny day!
Fishing in Rock Lake
Rock Lake is a great place for fishing! Many different types of fish live here, making it a fun challenge for anglers. You might catch:
- Pike
- Smallmouth bass
- Largemouth bass
- Rock bass
- Pumpkinseed
- Bluegill
- Sunfish
- Walleye
