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Brandenburg Lake, Illinois, USA

Also known as:  Lake of the Hollow, Fox Chain O'Lakes

Brandenburg Lake, also known as Lake of the Hollow, is a private, freshwater lake connected to Illinois’ Fox Chain of Lakes. This glacial succession includes nine major bodies of water, all connected to each other through a number of smaller lakes, canals, and the Fox River. Water level control on the entire Fox River Chain O’Lakes is controlled by a series of dams on the Fox River….
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    • All About Brandenburg Lake, IL

    Lake Locations: USA - US Midwest Region - Illinois - Chicagoland Region, IL -

    Brandenburg Lake, also known as Lake of the Hollow, is a private, freshwater lake connected to Illinois’ Fox Chain of Lakes. This glacial succession includes nine major bodies of water, all connected to each other through a number of smaller lakes, canals, and the Fox River. Water level control on the entire Fox River Chain O’Lakes is controlled by a series of dams on the Fox River. The dams, under the control of the Illinois Division of Water Resources, maintain recreational water levels and control flooding. An impressive 6,500 acres of water and 488 total miles of shoreline make up the chain, which attracts a weekend average of 60,000 visitors.

    Brandenburg Lake has a surface area of 75 acres, and an island consisting of 23 acres of moist woodlands and grassy meadows. It is situated between the Pistakee Bog Nature Preserve, to the south, and three lakes to the north – Redhead Lake, Myers Bay, and Pistakee Lake. Because it is privately owned, residents enjoy exclusive access to Lake of the Hollow. Only non-gasoline, electric engines with strict horsepower limits are allowed on the lake, keeping the water immaculate for geese, swans, waterfowl and other animals that call the area home.

    Brandenburg Lake is a part of the Volo Bog State Natural Area, which encompasses the Pistakee Bog, Brandenburg Bog, and Volo Bog water basins. Owned by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, the Volo Bog is made up of 900 acres of wetlands, forests, bogs and prairies. Nearly 84,000 visitors tour these lands each year for hiking, stargazing and wildlife watching. A great number of animal species populate the lake and its surrounding shores, including great blue herons, whitetail deer, mink, raccoon, muskrat, red fox and sandhill cranes. Just south of Lake of the Hollow lies the Pistakee Bog Nature Preserve. This protected area is home to at least 11 species of plant that are endangered in the state. It is composed of 399 acres, most of which are controlled by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.

    Brandenburg Lake was dedicated a nature preserve in 1970 and a National Natural Landmark in 1973. It has been home to the Lake County Astronomical Society since 2001. Facilities include a shop, offices, restrooms, picnic areas and library with exhibits relevant to the park.

    Hiking around Brandenburg Lake is ideal for relatively short explorations. The Volo Bog Interpretive Trail is a half-mile loop over boardwalks, docks, and woodlands. The Tamarack View Trail is just under three miles long, and passes through wetlands, forests, fields and prairies. The trail – named after the endangered tamarack trees in the area – is ideal for cross country skiing during the winter (a six-inch minimum snow base is required).

    Only a handful of real estate properties are available on Brandenburg Lake, making it a peaceful, isolated and exclusive place to live. Stringent environmental laws take precedence over land development, maintaining a pristine habitat for hundreds of bird, animal and insect species.

    Things to Do at Brandenburg Lake

    These are some activities in the Brandenburg Lake, IL area visitors can enjoy:

    • Boating
    • Picnicking
    • Hiking
    • Cross-Country Skiing
    • Wildlife Viewing
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    Find Places to Stay at Brandenburg Lake

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    More Sites to Book a Brandenburg Lake Vacation

    Our interactive Brandenburg Lake lodging map above is an easy tool for comparing VRBO rental homes and nearby hotels with Booking.com, but there could be times when you need to expand your search for different types of accommodations. Here are some other lake lodging partners we recommend:

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    Brandenburg Lake Statistics & Helpful Links

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    Lake Type: Natural Freshwater Lake, Dammed

    Water Level Control: Illinois Dept. of Transportation-Division of Water Resources

    Surface Area: 75 acres

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