Rock Lake is a lake in Southeast Wisconsin, United States.

Geography

Rock Lake is in south central Wisconsin, at

Lake Mills, Wisconsin Lake Mills is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 6,211 at the 2020 census. The city is located partially within the Town of Lake Mills. History Lake Mills occupies the east shore of Rock Lake. The area was ...

in Jefferson County, Wisconsin approximately east of Madison. Rock Lake is a 1365 acre lake with a maximum depth of 60 feet (18.3 m). The lake shape resembles a slight figure eight with several distinct areas. South of the figure eight portion of the lake lies Bean Lake State natural area which is a protected marsh. Part of the south western part of the figure eight is usually covered in tall aquatic vegetation that reach out of the water. In the north western portion of the figure eight there is a sand bar which often has boats anchored and is swimming accessible. The

Glacial Drumlin State Trail The Glacial Drumlin State Trail is a multipurpose rail trail in the U.S. State of Wisconsin. It stretches from Waukesha (near Milwaukee) to Cottage Grove (near Madison). The trail travels through or near the Wisconsin communities of Cottage Gr ...

runs across an old rail road bridge across the southern portion of the lake. The trail separates the lake from the marsh area to the south of the lake.

Pyramid claims

Rock Lake is perhaps most famous for its underwater rock piles frequently claimed to be pyramids built by the

Mississippian culture The Mississippian culture was a Native Americans in the United States, Native American civilization that flourished in what is now the Midwestern United States, Midwestern, Eastern United States, Eastern, and Southeastern United States from appr ...

at a time when water levels were much lower. Mounds shaped like pyramids exist three miles (5 km) east of Rock Lake in Aztalan State Park on the Crawfish River in the town of Aztalan, Wisconsin. The park has National Landmark Status. The mounds are thought to have been built by the

and it is speculated that the site at Aztalan was a northern outpost of Cahokia, a much larger city in present-day Illinois not far from St. Louis, Missouri. The waters of Rock Lake have been referred to as "Tyranena", (Tie-ra-nee-na). That name has persisted in the area and is used by businesses, road names, and a park that is on the lake.

Beaches

There are two public beaches, Bartel's beach and Sandy Beach; both are located in the south eastern portion of the lake.

Fishing

Pike, smallmouth bass, largemouth bass, rock bass, pumpkinseed, bluegill, sunfish and walleye can be found in Rock Lake.

Notes

External links

Rock Lake’s ‘Pyramids’ are Just Silty Rock Piles, Patrick Durkin, July 18, 2019
{{authority control Lakes of Wisconsin Lakes of Jefferson County, Wisconsin Geography of Jefferson County, Wisconsin