A monument to times past and a living laboratory of times present, West Lake teems with aquatic life. Originally excavated as a quarry during the park’s industrial era, the lake basin now hosts fish, frogs, turtles, and birds. A careful observer may also notice aquatic insects hidden among the lake’s plants and sediments. West Lake is a wet and wild watery habitat that invites exploration and offers opportunity for discovery.

Photo: This tough, old reptilian resident of West Lake poses for a photo opp. Red-eared sliders (Trachemys sripta elegans) can be seen basking in the sun on floating logs and along the banks in West Lake. Photo courtesy of Dr. Jon Bossley.