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Devil's Lake (Wisconsin)
Encyclopedia
Devil's Lake is an endorheic (closed drainage) lake in the South Range of the Baraboo Hills, about two miles south of Baraboo, Wisconsin
, in Sauk County
, Wisconsin
, USA. The lake is one of the primary attractions of the eponymous Devil's Lake State Park.
Devil's Lake is the site of annual Ho-Chunk Nation celebrations which have been conducted for many generations. The Ho-Chunk gave Devil's Lake its name because it was said that the voices of spirits were often heard during the celebrations. Their name, however, was “Da-wa-kah-char-gra” meaning “Spirit Lake.”
It is also a popular recreation destination for watercraft, fishing, hiking, and climbing.
Devil's Lake was originally a gorge of the Wisconsin River
prior to the last ice age
. At what is now the southern end of the lake, the river turned from a southerly direction to an easterly direction. During the ice age, a lobe of the glacier passed to the east of the Baraboo Hills and came up the river valley. It deposited materials and then melted, leaving a terminal moraine
blocking the river, forming an earthen dam. Another moraine was deposited at the north end of the lake. The river eventually found a new course to the east of the Baraboo Hills, where the glacier had been, leaving a portion of the river gorge between the moraines filled with water. This body of water is Devil's Lake.
Baraboo, Wisconsin
Baraboo is the largest city in, and the county seat of Sauk County, Wisconsin, USA. It is situated on the Baraboo River. Its 2010 population was 12,048 according to the US Census Bureau...
, in Sauk County
Sauk County, Wisconsin
Sauk County is a county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of 2000, the population was 55,225. Its county seat and largest city is Baraboo. Sauk County is included in the Baraboo Micropolitan Statistical Area and in the Madison Combined Statistical Area....
, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
, USA. The lake is one of the primary attractions of the eponymous Devil's Lake State Park.
Devil's Lake is the site of annual Ho-Chunk Nation celebrations which have been conducted for many generations. The Ho-Chunk gave Devil's Lake its name because it was said that the voices of spirits were often heard during the celebrations. Their name, however, was “Da-wa-kah-char-gra” meaning “Spirit Lake.”
It is also a popular recreation destination for watercraft, fishing, hiking, and climbing.
History
Wisconsin River
-External links:* * * , Wisconsin Historical Society* * * *...
prior to the last ice age
Wisconsin glaciation
The last glacial period was the most recent glacial period within the current ice age occurring during the last years of the Pleistocene, from approximately 110,000 to 10,000 years ago....
. At what is now the southern end of the lake, the river turned from a southerly direction to an easterly direction. During the ice age, a lobe of the glacier passed to the east of the Baraboo Hills and came up the river valley. It deposited materials and then melted, leaving a terminal moraine
Terminal moraine
A terminal moraine, also called end moraine, is a moraine that forms at the end of the glacier called the snout.Terminal moraines mark the maximum advance of the glacier. An end moraine is at the present boundary of the glacier....
blocking the river, forming an earthen dam. Another moraine was deposited at the north end of the lake. The river eventually found a new course to the east of the Baraboo Hills, where the glacier had been, leaving a portion of the river gorge between the moraines filled with water. This body of water is Devil's Lake.