Big Lake (Missouri)

This article is about the lake. For the community, see Big Lake, Missouri.

Big Lake
Big Lake Big Lake
Location	Holt County, Missouri
Coordinates	40°04′21″N 95°20′42″W
Type	oxbow lake
Basin countries	United States
Surface area	646 acres (2.6 km2)
Max. depth	30 ft (9.1 m)
Surface elevation	850 ft (259 m)

Big Lake (the curved area in the upper left) on June 15, 2011 during the 2011 Missouri River floods with the Missouri River in the foreground.

Big Lake is a 646-acre (2.6 km²) oxbow lake in Holt County, Missouri near Big Lake, Missouri, USA.

It is believed to have been formed from the Missouri River some time before the Lewis and Clark Expedition visited the area in 1804. It is the largest oxbow lake in the state of Missouri.

Big Lake State Park, a 407-acre (1.6 km²) state park, was established on the lake's northeast side in 1932. The State Park includes the largest marsh in a state park in Missouri. The remaining two-thirds of the lake shore is occupied by privately owned cabins and residences. The lake is very shallow (usually only five feet) in most areas. Residents say one can walk across the lake if one is careful. The only known major deep spot in the lake is under the railroad trussel at the south side of the lake. This spot is almost 30 feet (9.1 m) deep. The majority of the lake's fish reside here in winter.

External links

• Big Lake State Park page