Every Lake
Lura Lake
Thirteen miles of shoreline wrap a lake that never drops past ten feet deep.
- 2 ft · first step
- 3 ft
- 5 ft
- 7 ft
- 9 ft
- 10 ft · bottom
About Lura Lake
Lura Lake sits in the prairie country of southern Minnesota, a short drive from Mankato. At about 1,305 acres, it is one of the larger lakes in the region, but shallow throughout, with a maximum depth near 10 feet. That shallowness is typical of the glacially carved basins left across southern Minnesota's farmland, where retreating ice sheets scoured broad, flat depressions rather than deep kettle holes. The shoreline runs roughly 13 miles, mostly low and open, bordered by cropland and scattered trees rather than bluffs or rock outcrops.
A lake this shallow warms fast in summer and grows heavy weed cover, which makes it a working fishery rather than a scenic backdrop: walleye, panfish, and bullhead draw anglers from Mankato and the small towns around it. The open water and marshy edges also attract waterfowl, and duck hunting is part of the seasonal rhythm along its shoreline. Cabins here tend to be modest, held by local families rather than resort operators, and the lake serves as a nearby getaway for a college and trade town rather than a destination for out-of-state visitors.
- 6 depth layers, each step engraved with its depth in feet
- Compass rose, title block with coordinates, max depth and area; keyhole hanger on the back
Turn it in your hands
Live 3D of the actual cut files — drag to orbit, pinch to zoom. Every road you see is engraved on the real thing.
Viewer not showing? Open it full screen.
Lura Lake depth chart, in wood
This is a Lura Lake depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 2 ft, 3 ft, 5 ft, 7 ft, 9 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 10 ft. The lake covers about 2.1 square miles. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Lura Lake map for the wall — or a gift
Most of these go to a cabin wall, a lake house entry, or a home office; a lot are gifts — the family that has been on Lura Lake for three generations, the retirement move, the first boat. The 12-inch is the desk-and-shelf size; the 24- and 30-inch boards read across a room. Add a line under the title and star your place on the shore, and it becomes the map of your Lura Lake.
Lura Lake map — the details
How big is the map?
Four sizes: 12, 17, 24 and 30 inches on the long side, from $149. Every size is cut from the same depth data of Lura Lake; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Lura Lake is cut layer by layer from published bathymetric soundings — each layer of birch is a depth contour, so the shape of the bottom is the real one, not decorative.
Can I add my own place on it?
Yes. At checkout you can add a line under the title (a family name, a cabin name, a year) and star the spot on the shore that matters to you.
How long does it take?
Made to order in Waterford, Pennsylvania and shipped in 7–10 days; shipping is free in the lower 48.
Can you make a lake that isn't listed?
Any lake in the United States — we hold depth data for 104,419 of them. Search for yours; if it isn't built yet we build it when you order.
- 6 depth layers down to 10 ft
- 2.1 square miles of water
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
