This 2,400-acre lake with 20 miles of shoreline, located in southern Illinois in
Alexander County (as well as a similarly-named lake in
Madison County), was formed by a shift in the course of the
Mississippi River. The centerpiece of 10,000-acre
Horseshoe Lake Conservation Area, the lake is reminiscent of the shallow bayous of Louisiana.
The swampy nature of the lake lends itself to the support of ages-old bald cypress, swamp cottonwood and tupelo gum trees and flowers such as the wild lotus and red buckeye shrubery. In addition, the lake attracts populations of bald eagles and up to 150,000 Canadian geese during their winter migration.