

IL 4. Horseshoe Lake. Acreage: About 2000. 



Location: Alexander County; Thebes, III. -Mo. Quadrangle; 1 1 miles NW of 

 Cairo; reached via Rt. 3. 



Description: This is an oxbow lake in the bottoms of the Mississippi River at the 

 northern edge of the Mississippi embayment. Habitats range from open lake to 

 shallow marshy or brushy areas and wooded swamp. Typically, the lake is bor- 

 dered with a band of Bald Cypress and Swamp Tupelo. Virtually the entire flora 

 and fauna is of southern species near the northern limit of their range. The area 

 is famous for its huge wintering flock of Canada Geese. It is one of the last areas 

 in southern Illinois where the Bald Eagle nests. 



References: Evers, R. A. 1963. Some unusual natural areas in Illinois and a few 

 of their plants. ///. Nat. Hist. Surv. Biol. Notes No. 50, Urbana. p. 22-23. 



Ownership: 



III. 62706. 



linois Department of Conservation, State Office Bldg., Springfield, 



O 

 0) 



Data source: John Schwegman, 303 W. Grand Ave., Carterville, 111. 62918; Il- 

 linois Nature Preserves Commission. 



Other knowledgeable persons: Dr. Robert Evers, Illinois Natural History Survey, 

 Urbana, III. 61801; Dr. W. D. Klimstra and Dr. Robert Mohlenbrock, Southern 

 Illinois University, Carbondale, III. 62901 . 



