Lake Mendota, the 9,781 acre picturesque lake which sits alongside the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Known as the largest of four lakes in Madison, as well as the moat studied lake in the United States, Lake Mendota has been a social gathering spot for locals since the city was founded in 1829. Fed by the Yahara River, the lake sports a max depth of 83ft, 21 miles of shoreline which contains five beaches, and fish species which include Sturgeon, Musky, and Northern Pike. But what many outside of Wisconsin don’t know, is that at one point, a monster was said to also call Lake Mendota home.