One of the 10,000 lakes that Minnesota is famous for, Otter Tail Lake, is a local favorite, revered for its robust walleye fishing. Currently, the 10th largest lake in the state, Otter Tail Lake was formed around 12,000 years ago as a mile-high glacier retreated north at the end of the last Ice Age. Though the Native American tribes that once resided in this region are long gone, their presence lingers even to this day. Burial mounds and artifacts pepper the countryside. It’s unknown how the lake and river came by their name, Otter Tail, but local lore has it that there was once a large otter population in these waters. Often the only way to spot one was by the telltale flick of their tail.