Lake Chicot
| Lake Chicot | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Chicot County, Arkansas |
| Coordinates | 33°19′21″N 91°16′42″W / 33.32250°N 91.27833°WCoordinates: 33°19′21″N 91°16′42″W / 33.32250°N 91.27833°W |
| Type | oxbow lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 108 ft (33 m) |
Lake Chicot (/ʃɨˈkoʊ/ shi-KOH) is a lake located near Lake Village, Arkansas. It is the largest oxbow lake in North America and the largest natural lake in Arkansas, formed 600 years ago by the meandering of the Mississippi River.
The name Chicot, French for stumpy, is after the many cypress stumps and trees along its banks. The lake is approximately 3/4 miles wide and 21–22 miles long from end to end, forming a traditional "C" shape (when viewed from overhead, with top being north and bottom being south and the open end of the "C" facing east).
The Arkansas Department of Parks and Tourism operates Lake Chicot State Park on the northern end of the lake, Chicot County also operates a county park on the eastern side of the lake across from Lake Village. Located at the State Park is a bait shop, fish cleaning station and a pier. The bait shop also has boat rentals. At the State Park Visitor's Center there are cabins for rent and camping spots. There is also a wildlife museum, featuring creatures found in Lake Chicot.
The state Tourist Information Center at Lake Village is built on a pier extending out into the lake; it is the only Center in the state completely heated and cooled by solar energy. However, it is scheduled to be replaced by a more modern center.
Charles Lindbergh made his first ever nighttime flight over Lake Chicot and Lake Village in April 1923.
According to legend, Hernando De Soto is buried in Lake Chicot.