| Lake Namakagon | |
| Location: | Bayfield County, Wisconsin near Cable, Wisconsin |
| Coords: | 46.2157°N -91.111°W |
| Type: | Glacial lake |
| Inflow: | Namakagon River |
| Basin Countries: | United States |
| Length: | 43.670 (70.280 km) |
| Depth: | 38feet |
| Max-Depth: | 51feet |
| Volume: | 52032acre.ft |
| Shore: | 43.67miles |
| Islands: | Paines Island, Anderson Island |
| Cities: | Namakagon, Wisconsin |
| Pushpin Map: | Wisconsin#USA |
| Pushpin Map Alt: | Location of Lake Namakagon in Wisconsin, USA. |
Lake Namakagon (pronounced NAM-uh-KAH-gun) is located in Bayfield County, Wisconsin. The lake is a large freshwater drainage lake that opens inlet and outlet of streams located between Lake Superior and Mississippi River system. The lake is located in the upper Namekagon river watershed as St. Croix river basin is the subwatershed of it. The lake derives its name from the Ojibwe language, and it means "Lake abundant with sturgeons." It is known for tourism and was the home of the legendary Anishinaabe Chief Namakagon.
The area around Lake Namakagon was logged heavily during the timber boom years from post-Civil War days through the mid-1920s. The Chicago, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Omaha and Northwestern Railroad arrived nearby in 1880, delivering timber and tourists. Area forests are temperate deciduous forest containing many varieties of coniferous trees, such as white spruce, and other vegetation.
From the early 1830s through 1886, a Native American made his home on the lake. Known locally as Chief Namakagon, he became legend as a result of Ashland Daily Press articles about his trading shards of silver for supplies. His secret source for the silver was never discovered and people still search for it today.
Logging has given way to tourism as the primary economic driver.
The Namakagon River sources from this lake.
Lake Namakagon is a 2897 acre lake located at 46 22’ 15” 70.00” N -91 06’ 36.00” W. The shoreline length of Lake Namakagon is 43.67 mi (70 km). Lake Namakagon reaches a maximum depth of 51 ft (17 yd),and a mean depth of 16 ft (5.3 yd). The Namakagon River sources the 52,032 acre feet (64,181,000 m3) lake. There is a dam located on the west side of the lake and was put in place by the town of Namakagon in 1926 to regulate the water level. The lake's geological basin origin is a glacial lake basin. Lake Namakagon hydrological lake type is drainage. The bottom composition of the lake is 30% sand, 25% gravel, 0% rock, 45% muck. The water clarity of Lake Namakagon is low.
Lake Namakagon is home to a thriving fishery with the following species; muskellunge, bluegill and other sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, northern pike, and walleye. Lake Namakagon's trophic status is a eutrophic lake.
Namakagon lake offers several activities open to the public including camping, hiking and biking on the trails, kayaking, water activities, basketball courts, fishing, and wildlife watching. Near the campground there are several trails of North Country National Scenic Trail, CAMBA Mountain Bike Trails, and Rock Lake National Recreation Trail. Across the campground there is a Namekagon trail about a mile long loop. Water activities include, jet skiing, swimming, boat riding, tubing, waterskiing, and windsurfing are all offered at the lake. Namakagon is known for their great fishery of different species of bluegill and other sunfish, largemouth and smallmouth bass, crappie, northern pike, and walleye. Namakagon is a premier muskellunge lake, and "one of only three lakes in Wisconsin managed as a trophy muskie lake."[1]
There are several restaurants and resorts located on Lake Namakagon.
Most of the resorts overlook the lake and feature Northwoods-style cabins and lodging. Among them include:
There are environmental concerns throughout Namakagon Lake that need to be addressed: