The Ice Age Geology of Devils Lake State Park

Devils Lake State Park is a place of striking geologic contrasts, where some of the oldest rock exposed in southern Wisconsin lies next to some of the youngest geologic materials in the state. The purple rock (called Baraboo quartzite) in the walls of Devils Lake gorge is more than 1.7 billion years old; the glacially deposited ridges that block both ends of the gorge are only about 16,000 years old. This booklet and accompanying geologic map will help you recognize the park's interesting and scenic landforms. Learn how the namesake lake was formed, how cylindrical holes could be bored into rocks, and the story behind the spectacular piles of rock (talus) at the base of cliffs.

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