Wazee Lake

Infobox_lake
lake_name = Wazee Lake
image_lake = Wazee 007.jpg
caption_lake = A ramp leading down to one of the scuba diving accesses at Wazee Lake.
image_bathymetry =
caption_bathymetry =
location = Black River Falls, Wisconsin
coords = coord|44.290|N|90.723|W|type:waterbody_region:US-WI|display=inline,title
type = Artificial
inflow =
outflow =
catchment =
basin_countries = United States
length = convert|4000|ft|m|abbr=on
width = convert|1800|ft|m|abbr=on
area = convert|146|acre|km2|abbr=on
depth =
max-depth = convert|355|ft|m|abbr=on
volume =
residence_time =
shore =
elevation = convert|900|ft|m|abbr=on
islands =
cities =

Wazee Lake is a lake east of Black River Falls, Wisconsin. The name "Wazee" means "tall pine" in the Ho-Chunk language. The lake is the deepest lake within the state of Wisconsin, with a maximum depth of approximately convert|355|ft|m. The lake was formed artificially, after being used as a quarry for taconite mining between the mid-1960s through April 1983. The quarry produced about 850,000 tons of taconite pellets each year. The mine closed in 1983 as a result of a crash of the domestic steel markets in the United States. When the mine was in operation, pumps removed about convert|800|USgal|L impgal| of water per minute from the quarry. Once these pumps were shut down, the quarry began filling with water.

The lake, now part of a county park, is now a prime scuba diving destination because of its deep, clear water. Visibility averages between convert|30|ft|m and convert|40|ft|m during the summer months. There are also visible remains of mining operations underwater, such as roadways used for hauling equipment. Some features have been added to the lake, such as underwater platforms for training divers and fish cribs to improve habitat for the fish. Fish species within the lake include rainbow, brook and brown trout, bluegills, suckers, catfish, walleye, warmouth and smallmouth bass.

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