Lake of the Isles
One of the islands is in the center, while the other island is just visible on the right side (spring 2006)
Location	Minneapolis, Minnesota
Coordinates	44°57′17″N 93°18′27″W / 44.95472°N 93.3075°W / 44.95472; -93.3075Coordinates: 44°57′17″N 93°18′27″W / 44.95472°N 93.3075°W / 44.95472; -93.3075
Basin  countries	United States
Surface area	109 acres (44 ha)
Max. depth	31 feet (9 m)
Islands	2 (Mike's Island, Raspberry Island)

Lake of the Isles is a lake in Minneapolis, Minnesota connected to Cedar Lake and Lake Calhoun. It is home to winter ice skating and hockey, as well as a New Year's Eve celebration featuring roasted marshmallows and hot chocolate. The lake has an area of 109 acres (0.4 km²), 2.86 miles (4.6 km) of shoreline, and a maximum depth of 31 feet (9 m).

Some of the stately homes around Lake of the Isles.

The lake seen from the south, with birdlife sanctuary islands barely visible in both left and right frames.

Lake of the Isles is known for its two wooded islands, its long north arm, and the stately houses of the Kenwood, Lowry Hill and East Isles neighborhoods which surround it. The two wooded islands are protected wildlife refuges which contain virgin woods. Exploring or landing on either Mike's Island (to the north) or Raspberry Island (to the south) is prohibited, as marked by signs.

The lake was created in its current form in the early 20th century by dredging a small lake (called "Wita Tomna" meaning Four Islands Lake by the local Dakota people)^[1] and marsh complex. The dredged materials -- mostly peat and silt -- were used to create about 36 acres (150,000 m²) of park land around the lake. Unfortunately, the settling of these materials and the pressure of urban development has led to an unstable shoreline and reduced water quality. The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board is in the middle of a multi-year project to stabilize the shoreline, renovate the parkland, and put in twelve stone lake access points.

[edit] Fish

The lake contains Black Bullhead, Black Crappie, Bluegill, Bowfin, Common Carp, Hybrid Sunfish, Largemouth Bass, Northern Pike, Pumpkinseed Sunfish, Tiger Muskellunge, Walleye, Yellow Bullhead, and Yellow Perch.^[2]

[edit] References

• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - Lake of the Isles
• Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board - Lake of the Isles Project
• Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Lake of the Isles Water Quality Data
• Photo Blog of Lake of the Isles

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