Lake Bruin is an ox-bow lake of the Mississippi River

Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...

 located in Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

. It consists of some 3000 acres (12.1 km²) of unusually clear water, particularly suited for swimming, boating

Boating

Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...

, and fishing

Fishing

Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....

. Part of the lake is owned by the state, which operates Lake Bruin State Park

Lake Bruin State Park

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, one of nineteen Louisiana state parks. Much of the land beside the lake is in private hands, and many fashionable homes, both vacation houses and permanent residences, have been constructed there in recent years. Many of the homes have piers extending into the lake.

Lake Bruin is the ox-bow lake for the St. Joseph

St. Joseph, Louisiana

St. Joseph is a town in and the parish seat of Tensas Parish in northeastern Louisiana, United States. The population was 1,340 at the 2000 census. The town is 69 percent African American. St. Joseph is the entry community to Lake Bruin State Park located on Lake Bruin, a relatively clear oxbow...

 area. Other ox-bow lakes include Lake St. Joseph, located in Newellton

Newellton, Louisiana

Newellton is a town in northern Tensas Parish in the northeastern part of the U.S. state of Louisiana. The population is 1,227 in the 2010 census, a decline of 255 from 2000. Newellton is some 65 percent African American. It is just west of the Mississippi River on Lake St. Joseph, an ox-bow lake....

 and across the highway from the nearby Winter Quarters State Historic Site

Winter Quarters State Historic Site

Winter Quarters in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, United States, is a surviving example of an Antebellum cotton plantation. It is located south of Newellton on Lake St. Joseph, an ox-bow lake, or former bend in the Mississippi River. The main plantation home of the site began as a hunting lodge in 1805...

, and Lake St. John south of Waterproof

Waterproof, Louisiana

Waterproof is a town in Tensas Parish, Louisiana, United States with a population of 834 as of 2000 census. Waterproof is approximately seventeen miles north of Ferriday, one of the two principal communities of Concordia Parish...

.