Lakes / Illinois / White County / The Bayou
The Bayou, Illinois
45.96 acres
Surface Area
Where It Sits, and How Deep It Goes
Locator - Illinois
37.93 degrees N, 88.14 degrees W - White County. State and county outlines drawn from Census boundary data; the lake marker is placed by its USGS National Hydrography Dataset coordinates, not by eye. Schematic - not a survey map.
How The Bayou Stacks Up
- Larger than 33% of the 511 lakes counted in Illinois.
- The largest lake in White County among those counted.
- About 61 miles from Carbondale, as the crow flies.
Lakes Nearby
| Lake | County | Distance | Surface Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clear Pond | White | 5.6 mi | 26.69 acres |
| Hulda Lake | Gallatin | 9.9 mi | 37.52 acres |
| Sandy Run Lake | White | 12 mi | 31.33 acres |
| Round Pond | Gallatin | 12 mi | 70.66 acres |
| Fehrer Lake | Gallatin | 13 mi | 26.37 acres |
| Big Lake | Gallatin | 14 mi | 91.52 acres |
Straight-line distance between lake centers.
Facts and Figures
Questions About The Bayou
How Big Is The Bayou?
The Bayou covers 45.96 acres in White County, Illinois.
What Is the Largest Lake in White County?
The Bayou is the largest lake in White County, at 45.96 acres.
Largest Lakes in Illinois
| # | Lake | County | Surface Area | Max Depth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Carlyle Lake | Clinton | 22,796.77 acres | - |
| 2 | Mine Number 21 Reservoir | Franklin | 17,062.04 acres | - |
| 3 | Upper Peoria Lake | Woodford | 15,460.64 acres | - |
| 4 | Lake Shelbyville | Shelby | 10,235.1 acres | - |
| 5 | Crab Orchard Lake | Williamson | 7,292.57 acres | - |
All 511 Illinois lakes ranked by surface area
Sources: USGS National Hydrography Dataset (The National Map) lake data (ID 151839952). Verified October 30, 2026.