Wazee Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wazee Lake |
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A ramp leading down to one of the scuba diving accesses at Wazee Lake.
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 Wazee Lake
Location in Wisconsin
Wazee Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Brockway, Jackson County, east of Black River Falls, Wisconsin |
| Coordinates | 44°17′24″N 90°43′23″W / 44.290°N 90.723°W |
| Type | Artificial |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Max. length | 4,000 ft (1,200 m) |
| Max. width | 1,800 ft (550 m) |
| Surface area | 146 acres (0.59 km2) |
| Max. depth | 355 ft (108 m) |
| Surface elevation | 900 ft (270 m) |
Wazee Lake is a special lake located in Wisconsin, United States. You can find it east of Black River Falls, Wisconsin, in a place called Brockway. The name "Wazee" comes from the Ho-Chunk language and means "tall pine." This lake is unique because it's the deepest lake in Wisconsin. It reaches an amazing depth of about 355 feet (108 meters)!
Contents
How Wazee Lake Was Formed
Wazee Lake is not a natural lake. It was made by people! Before it became a lake, this area was a big quarry. A quarry is a place where rocks and minerals are dug out of the ground. From the mid-1960s until April 1983, workers mined a material called taconite here. Taconite is a type of iron ore.
Mining Operations at the Quarry
During the mining years, the quarry produced a lot of taconite. About 850,000 tons of taconite pellets were made each year. To keep the quarry dry for mining, powerful pumps worked all the time. These pumps removed about 800 gallons (3,000 liters) of water every minute!
From Mine to Lake
The mine closed in 1983. This happened because the demand for steel in the United States dropped a lot. When the mine closed, the pumps were turned off. Without the pumps, water started to fill the huge hole. Slowly, over time, the quarry filled up and became the deep lake we know today as Wazee Lake.
Wazee Lake Recreation Area
Today, Wazee Lake is a popular place for fun activities. It's part of a county park called the Wazee Lake Recreation Area. People come from all over to enjoy its clear, deep waters.
Scuba Diving Adventures
Wazee Lake is a top spot for scuba diving. Because the water is so deep and clear, divers can see very well. Visibility often ranges from 30 to 40 feet (9 to 12 meters) during the summer. Divers can explore the underwater world and even see parts of the old mining operation. There are old roadways that were used to move equipment, now resting on the lakebed.
Enhancements for Divers and Fish
To make diving even better, some special features have been added to the lake. There are underwater platforms that help divers practice their skills. These platforms are great for training. The lake also has "fish cribs." These are like underwater homes for fish. They help improve the habitat for many different fish species.
Fish Species in the Lake
Wazee Lake is home to many kinds of fish. You can find different types of trout, including rainbow, brook, and brown trout. Other fish living here include bluegills, suckers, catfish, walleye, warmouth, and smallmouth bass.
Images for kids
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Scuba divers approaching a platform about 20 feet (6 meters) below the surface of Wazee Lake.
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A fish crib, which provides habitat for small fish.
