Caddo Lake

On the boundary between Texas and Louisiana, in western Caddo Parish in Louisiana, northern Harrison County in Texas, and southern Marion County, Caddo Lake is a 25,400-acre (10,300 ha) lake and bayou (wetland). The Caddoans or Caddo, a group of Native Americans who lived in the region until they were driven out by the United States in the 19th century, gave their name to the lake. Most of them were made to transfer to Indian Territory in the west by the US.

In an effort to profit from the oil supply discovered beneath the lake, the first oil platform in the world was constructed above Lake Caddo in 1911. Oil drilling and harvesting eventually came to an end, and the operation was abandoned. Later, processing ammunition caused more damage to the area, but the ecosystem has since been repaired. Alligators, owls, snakes, frogs, waterfowl, bobcats, river otters, beavers, eagles, and other wildlife species can be seen around the lake today.

Location: western Caddo Parish in Louisiana

Surface Area: 25,400 acres
Max Depth: 20 Feet