Horseshoe Lake (Illinois)

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Horseshoe Lake

Horseshoe Lake in Illinois is a cutoff meander loop of the Mississippi River in Madison County, Illinois, Nameoki Township, in southwestern Illinois, about four miles east of St. Louis, Missouri. It is 2,400 acres in size, and is the second-largest natural lake in Illinois after Lake Michigan. The lake is in the American Bottom region, and is bordered by the towns of Madison and Granite City. Its elevation is 403 feet (123 m) above sea level. The lake, which is a National Natural Landmark, is named from its horseshoe shape.

The western part of the lake is industrialized, dominated by the Granite City Works facility of United States Steel Corporation, other parts of the lake include Horseshoe Lake State Park, 2,960 acres and Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area, 10,645 acres.

Much of the lake resembles a swamp or bayou; Bald cypress and Tupelo trees are found on the shoreline, this is the northernmost part of the natural range of these southern species. Other major flora include Swamp cottonwood trees, and American lotus.

The lake is very shallow, about four feet deep, and is annually drained in part to provide shorebird habitat. At least 284 bird species have been found at this lake, and include most of the species found statewide. Canada Geese winter here, as well as Bald Eagles. Other prominent birds include the Mallard duck, Snowy egret and Little Blue Heron, and the Eurasian Tree Sparrow, limited to this region in North America. Fish species include Bluegill, Sunfish, Crappie, Largemouth bass and Channel catfish.