by WisCartography

Geneva Lake & Lake Como

About this Map

Feeling encouraged by the response I was getting to my lake mapping efforts, I decided to turn my attention to one of Wisconsin’s best-known lake destinations: Geneva Lake, along with neighboring Lake Como.

Geneva Lake is one of the largest lakes I had mapped at the time, covering approximately 5,401 acres, and its underwater landscape is every bit as impressive as its size. Detailed bathymetric contours reveal steep drop-offs and deep basins reaching approximately 135 feet. Nearby Lake Como provides an interesting contrast. It is considerably smaller and shallower, making the two neighboring lakes quite different despite being part of the same Walworth County landscape.

The fishery of Geneva Lake is equally impressive, with an unusual mix of warm- and cold-water species. Lake Trout, Brown Trout, Cisco, Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Walleye, Smallmouth and Largemouth Bass, Yellow Perch, Crappie, Bluegill, and other species are found here, several of which are illustrated on the map.

As usual, I wanted the map to show more than just shorelines and depths. I included the surrounding communities of Lake Geneva, Williams Bay, and Fontana, along with roads, neighborhoods, parks, and plenty of recognizable local landmarks. Among those shown are the Lake Geneva Country Club, Abbey Springs Yacht Club, Gordy’s Marine, Lake Geneva Youth Camp, Big Foot Beach State Park, the Boat House Bar & Grill, the Grandview Restaurant, and shoreline features such as Cisco Bay, Geneva Bay, Buttons Bay, and Mannings Point.

There is a lot to fit onto a map of this area, but that’s also what made it interesting to create. Between Geneva Lake’s size and dramatic depths, the contrasting shallows of Lake Como, the remarkably diverse fishery, and all of the communities and landmarks surrounding the water, this map gave me plenty to work with.

Taking on a lake as large and well known as Geneva Lake felt like another step forward in this lake mapping project. I wanted to create something that was useful and detailed but still attractive enough to frame and hang on a wall, and I think these two very different lakes work particularly well together on the finished map.