Horseshoe Lake (Illinois)
There are several Horseshoe Lakes in the U.S. state of Illinois, notably Horseshoe Lake in Alexander County, and Horseshoe Lake in Madison County. Both lakes are cutoff meander loops of the Mississippi River.
Horseshoe Lake, Alexander County
| Horseshoe Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Alexander County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 37°08′56″N 089°21′18″W / 37.14889°N 89.35500°W |
| Type | Oxbow lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface elevation | 322 ft (98 m) |
Horseshoe Lake (Alexander County) is the site of Illinois's Horseshoe Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, a state park 10,645 acres (43 km2) in size. A remnant of a large meander of the Mississippi River, it is today a shallow, isolated patch of water located near Cairo and the southern tip of Illinois.
The Alexander County lake has major problems with siltation. During the Great Flood of 1993 the river tried to shift back to the Horseshoe Lake meander, but returned to its modern channel after the flood subsided. 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. Another tree found here is the swamp cottonwood. There is a good growth of the flowering American lotus.
Horseshoe Lake, Madison County
| Horseshoe Lake | |
|---|---|
| Location | Madison County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 38°41′58″N 090°05′06″W / 38.69944°N 90.08500°W |
| Type | Oxbow lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 2,400 acres (10 km²) |
| Max. depth | 54.5 ft (16 m) |
| Surface elevation | 403 ft (123 m) |
| Settlements | Madison, Granite City |
Horseshoe Lake (Madison County), a National Natural Landmark, is located in the American Bottom within the greater St. Louis metropolitan area, is 2,400 acres (10 km2) in size, and is the second-largest natural lake in Illinois after Lake Michigan. Also a remnant of a Mississippi River meander, the lake's elevation is 403 feet (123 m) above sea level. The lake is the site of Horseshoe Lake State Park, which is 2,960 acres (12 km2) in size. The lake is bordered by the towns of Madison and Granite City; it is located within Nameoki Township, about four miles east of St. Louis, Missouri.
The Madison County lake is very shallow, about feet feet (1 m) deep throughout most the lake. There is however one deep spot, about 54.5 feet (16 m) deep, due to dredging for sand in years past. The lake is annually drained in part to provide shorebird habitat. At least 284 bird species have been found at this lake, which includes 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. The western part of the lake is industrialized, dominated by the Granite City Works facility of United States Steel Corporation.