Every Lake
Lake Waubesa
The third lake in Madison's Yahara chain, quieter than Mendota and Monona upstream.
- 12 ft · first step
- 23 ft
- 35 ft
- 47 ft
- 58 ft
- 70 ft · bottom
About Lake Waubesa
Lake Waubesa is the third of Madison, Wisconsin's four connected Yahara River lakes, sitting south of Lake Monona and covering about 2,074 acres with a maximum depth of 38 feet. It is shallower and less developed than Mendota and Monona to its north, with the village of McFarland on its shore and more marshland and wildlife habitat along its edges. The lake feeds into Lake Kegonsa downstream, and paddling and fishing on its quieter water are common escapes from the busier lakes closer to downtown Madison.
- 4 shore towns named, with a star on each
- 1,513 roads engraved around the shore, 11 of them labeled
- 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.
Lake Waubesa depth chart, in wood
This is a Lake Waubesa depth chart you can hang: 6 stacked layers of birch, each one a depth contour — 12 ft, 23 ft, 35 ft, 47 ft, 58 ft and deeper, down to the deepest hole at about 70 ft. The lake covers about 5.3 square miles, and 1513 shore roads are engraved around it. The shape of the bottom is the real one from published soundings, so anglers recognise their drop-offs and points.
A Lake Waubesa 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 Lake Waubesa 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 Lake Waubesa.
Lake Waubesa 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 Lake Waubesa; the bigger boards carry more shoreline roads and place names.
Is it made from real depth data?
Yes. Lake Waubesa 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 70 ft
- 5.3 square miles of water
- 1513 shore roads engraved, 11 named
- Title block, compass rose and depth markers
- Birch plywood, keyhole hanger, made in Waterford, PA
