Lake Chetek Live Cam

Chetek is located in northwest Wisconsin in the heart of Wisconsin Indianhead Country, just forty miles from Eau Claire and ninety miles from the Twin Cities.

The first inhabitants here were the Ojibway indians. The name Chetek is thought to originate from "Shadack" the Indian name for a long-legged bird abounding in the wild rice growing in the marshy land. Chetek lake originally was a source of wild rice for the Indians. Some wild rice beds can still be found in the Ten Mile Creek area.

A pipestone quarry also attracted many Indians to the area. A pipestone formation called "Catlinite" is a dark red clay easily worked with a knife which then hardens and takes on a high red polish upon being exposed to the air. Catlinite was fashioned into beads, ornaments and building blocks. The pipestone ridge just north of Chetek and the one running through Minnesota are the only ones in the U.S.

With the construction of the first dam in 1863 the original lakes were greatly enlarged and Ojaski, Moose Ear and Ten Mile lakes were formed. Today fishing abounds in the fertile waters of these lakes.