Lake Mendota
Encyclopedia
Lake Mendota is the northernmost and largest of the four lake
s near Madison
, Wisconsin
. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest.
The shorelines of Lakes Mendota and Monona
define the isthmus
upon which Madison was built, with the lakes connected by the Yahara River
. The Wisconsin State Capitol
building and much of the state government is located in this narrow stretch of land.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison
campus is situated along the southern shore of Lake Mendota. In the early 20th century, Chancey Juday
and Edward A. Birge founded an influential school of limnology
there as a component of the university. The university's Hoofer Sailing Club operates at Memorial Union.
Much of the shore of Lake Mendota is lined with expensive luxury homes and condominiums
. The banks of Lake Mendota also contain government protected natural areas and park
s, including James Madison Park
, as well as university housing, the UW Student Union
and a handful of hotel
s and restaurant
s. Summers bring boaters
out in force, especially on the weekends, though Lake Mendota is rarely crowded. There are several boat launching sites and two major marina
s serving the lake. On a typical summer day, the lake is filled with those engaging in water sports, including fishing
, water-skiing, wakeboarding
, tubing
, canoeing
, wind-surfing, kayaking
, and sailing
. With an average freeze date of December 20, Lake Mendota is still used in the winter by sports enthusiasts for ice-boating
, ice-skating, ice fishing
, cross country skiing, ice hockey
and snowkiting
.
resting on its southern bank. The lake has a remote sensor buoy, affectionately known as David Buoy, that is part of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network.
On September 11, 2009, the invasive spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) was discovered by the limnology class at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, making it the third known inland lake to harbor this species in Wisconsin.
Lake Mendota has Surface Area of 3,988 ha.
Maximum depth: 24.9 m.
Mean depth: 12.5 m.
Volume: 503 m^3.
Surface elevation: 259m.
Shore Length: 34.8 km.
The pH of Lake Mendota: 8.3-8.4.
Specific Conductance of 407.8 mS/cm.
Dissolved Organic Carbon as 5.3-5.7 mg/L.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
s near Madison
Madison, Wisconsin
Madison is the capital of the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Dane County. It is also home to the University of Wisconsin–Madison....
, 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...
. The lake borders Madison on the north, east and south, Middleton on the west, Shorewood Hills on the southwest, Maple Bluff on the northeast, and Westport on the northwest.
Lake Monona
Lake Monona is a freshwater drainage lake in Dane County, Wisconsin surrounded on three sides by the city of Madison, Wisconsin and on the south side by the city of Monona, Wisconsin. It is the second-largest of a chain of four lakes along the Yahara River in the area and forms the south shore of...
define the isthmus
Isthmus
An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas usually with waterforms on either side.Canals are often built through isthmuses where they may be particularly advantageous to create a shortcut for marine transportation...
upon which Madison was built, with the lakes connected by the Yahara River
Yahara River
The Yahara River is a tributary of the Rock River, about long , in southern Wisconsin in the United States. Via the Rock River, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River...
. The Wisconsin State Capitol
Wisconsin State Capitol
The Wisconsin State Capitol, in Madison, Wisconsin, houses both chambers of the Wisconsin legislature along with the Wisconsin Supreme Court and the Office of the Governor. Completed during 1917, the building is the fifth to serve as the Wisconsin capitol since the first territorial legislature...
building and much of the state government is located in this narrow stretch of land.
The University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
campus is situated along the southern shore of Lake Mendota. In the early 20th century, Chancey Juday
Chancey Juday
Chancey Juday together with G. Evelyn Hutchinson, and his close collaborator, Edward A. Birge were pioneers of North American limnology. Birge and Juday founded an influential school of limnology on Lake Mendota at the University of Wisconsin....
and Edward A. Birge founded an influential school of limnology
Limnology
Limnology , also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of ecology or environmental science. It covers the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes of all inland waters...
there as a component of the university. The university's Hoofer Sailing Club operates at Memorial Union.
Much of the shore of Lake Mendota is lined with expensive luxury homes and condominiums
Luxury real estate
Luxury real estate is the real estate market niche targeted at the highest socio-economic group of consumers. -Definition:The characteristics that define luxury real estate differ among countries...
. The banks of Lake Mendota also contain government protected natural areas and park
Park
A park is a protected area, in its natural or semi-natural state, or planted, and set aside for human recreation and enjoyment, or for the protection of wildlife or natural habitats. It may consist of rocks, soil, water, flora and fauna and grass areas. Many parks are legally protected by...
s, including James Madison Park
James Madison Park
James Madison Park is a waterfront park located on Lake Mendota in Madison, Wisconsin. It is owned by the city of Madison.-Gates of Heaven Synagogue:...
, as well as university housing, the UW Student Union
Memorial Union (Wisconsin)
The Memorial Union, known locally as simply "the Union", is located on the shore of Lake Mendota on the campus of the University of Wisconsin–Madison in Madison, Wisconsin. Between the building and the lake is the Terrace, a highly-popular outdoor space....
and a handful of hotel
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging on a short-term basis. The provision of basic accommodation, in times past, consisting only of a room with a bed, a cupboard, a small table and a washstand has largely been replaced by rooms with modern facilities, including en-suite bathrooms...
s and restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
s. Summers bring boaters
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
out in force, especially on the weekends, though Lake Mendota is rarely crowded. There are several boat launching sites and two major marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
s serving the lake. On a typical summer day, the lake is filled with those engaging in water sports, including fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, water-skiing, wakeboarding
Wakeboarding
Wakeboarding is a surface water sport which involves riding a wakeboard over the surface of a body of water. It was developed from a combination of water skiing, snow boarding and surfing techniques....
, tubing
Tubing
Tubing may refer to:* Tubing , flexible hose or pipe * Tubing , the act of riding an inner tube* Structural tubing* Plumbing tube used in domestic water systems* Inserting a tube* Brass instrument tubing...
, canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
, wind-surfing, kayaking
Kayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, and sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
. With an average freeze date of December 20, Lake Mendota is still used in the winter by sports enthusiasts for ice-boating
Ice boat
An ice boat is a boat or purpose-built framework similar in functional design to a sail boat but fitted with skis or runners and designed to run over ice instead of through water. Ice yachting is the sport of sailing and racing iceboats. Sailable ice is known in the sport as "hard water" versus...
, ice-skating, ice fishing
Ice fishing
Ice fishing is the practice of catching fish with lines and fish hooks or spears through an opening in the ice on a frozen body of water. Ice anglers may sit on the stool in the open on a frozen lake, or in a heated cabin on the ice, some with bunks and amenities.-Locations:It is a popular pastime...
, cross country skiing, ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
and snowkiting
Snowkiting
Snowkiting is an outdoor winter sport where people use kite power to glide on snow or ice. The sport is similar to kitesurfing, but with the footwear used in snowboarding or skiing. In the early days of snowkiting, foil kites were the most common type; nowadays some kitesurfers use their water gear...
.
Lake study
Lake Mendota has been called the most studied lake in the United States, with the UW–Madison Center for limnologyLimnology
Limnology , also called freshwater science, is the study of inland waters. It is often regarded as a division of ecology or environmental science. It covers the biological, chemical, physical, geological, and other attributes of all inland waters...
resting on its southern bank. The lake has a remote sensor buoy, affectionately known as David Buoy, that is part of the Global Lake Ecological Observatory Network.
On September 11, 2009, the invasive spiny water flea (Bythotrephes longimanus) was discovered by the limnology class at the University of Wisconsin–Madison, making it the third known inland lake to harbor this species in Wisconsin.
Lake Mendota has Surface Area of 3,988 ha.
Maximum depth: 24.9 m.
Mean depth: 12.5 m.
Volume: 503 m^3.
Surface elevation: 259m.
Shore Length: 34.8 km.
The pH of Lake Mendota: 8.3-8.4.
Specific Conductance of 407.8 mS/cm.
Dissolved Organic Carbon as 5.3-5.7 mg/L.
Gallery
External links
- Information about Lake Mendota's physical characteristics - University of Wisconsin - Madison Limnology Department
- City of Madison Beaches
- http://metobs.ssec.wisc.edu/buoy/ GAMIS Monitoring Buoy of Lake Mendota