Largest lakes & reservoirs in Chicagoland Region, IL by acres
There is no widely-accepted minimum surface area that defines a lake. What LakeLubbers describes as a lake, you might call a pond. Acreage of a lake (or sometimes square kilometers) is most often measured at the top surface area when the lake is at normal elevation. The surface area can be considerably smaller or larger when lake levels are lower or higher than normal. North America’s Lake Superior is the world’s largest freshwater lake by this measure.The other measure of a lake’s size is the lake’s water volume. By that measure, the world’s largest freshwater lake is Lake Baikal in Siberia.
You can find many of the world’s largest lakes (acres) on LakeLubbers in the comparison table below. Note: For some lakes, "Largest Lakes - Acres" data is unknown or does not apply, so you may see fewer lakes than the total 24 articles we have published for Chicagoland Region, IL lakes.
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Below are lakes within USA > US Midwest Region > Illinois > Chicagoland Region, IL > Compared by surface area in acres. This list does not represent all lakes in Chicagoland Region, IL, only the 24 Chicagoland Region, IL lake articles we have published on the LakeLubbers website.
Lake name | Surface area in acres | Lake description |
---|---|---|
Lake Michigan-Huron (Canada, Chicagoland Region, IL, Great Lakes of North America, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Michigan Region, WI, Michigan, North Indiana, Northeast Michigan, Northwest Michigan, Ontario, Canada, Southwest Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA, Upper Peninsula Region, MI, West Central Michigan, Wisconsin) |
29,062,400 ac | Lake Michigan and Lake Huron – two of North America’s Great Lakes – are contiguous and they share the same elevation of 577 feet above sea level. They… |
Lake Michigan (Chicagoland Region, IL, Great Lakes of North America, Illinois, Indiana, Lake Michigan Region, WI, Michigan, North Indiana, Northwest Michigan, Southwest Michigan, US Midwest Region, USA, Upper Peninsula Region, MI, West Central Michigan, Wisconsin) |
14,336,000 ac | As the only Great Lake nestled completely within the boundaries of the United States, Lake Michigan is the pride and joy of Wisconsin, Illinois, India… |
Fox Chain O’Lakes, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, Northern Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
7,110 ac | Also known as Fox Chain of Lakes, Channel Lake, Lake Catherine, Lake Marie, Bluff Lake, Petite Lake, Grass Lake, Fox Lake, Nippersink Lake, Pistakee Lake The Fox Chain O’Lakes is a collection of 15 navigable lakes on the Fox River, each with its own flavor. Called the “Key West of the Midwest,” the Chai… |
Fox Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,881 ac | Also known as Nippersink Lake, Fox Chain O'Lakes Located north of Chicago in the Chicagoland Region of Illinois, Fox Lake is part of the Fox River Chain of Lakes. The Fox River Chain consists of nine… |
Pistakee Lake (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,716 ac | Also known as Lake Pistakee, Fox Chain O'Lakes Pistakee Lake is a well-known destination to generations of Chicago area Lakelubbers. Located on the famous Fox River Chain of Lakes in the Chicagolan… |
Grass Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
1,360 ac | Also known as Fox Chain O'Lakes Grass Lake is one of nine lakes linked by channels to form the Fox Chain O’Lakes in northern Illinois. The combination of lakes is the largest inland,… |
Wolf Lake, IL/IN (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, Indiana, North Indiana, US Midwest Region, USA) |
907 ac | With Chicago, Illinois on one side and Hammond, Indiana on the other, Wolf Lake is a pocket of green offering respite to the weary city dweller. The w… |
Wonder Lake (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
830 ac | Wonder Lake is the 830-acre centerpiece of a planned lakefront community in the Chicagoland area of Illinois. That was the vision of developers in 192… |
Lake Marie, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
480 ac | Also known as Fox Chain O' Lakes Fresh water bog, river bluff and gently sloping hills characterize the land around Lake Marie. Cherry elm, birch, sumac and spruce are beautiful in th… |
Channel Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
352 ac | Also known as Fox Chain O'Lakes Over 7,000 acres of water make up the lakes in the Fox Chain O’Lakes in northeastern Illinois. With almost 500 shoreline miles lined with vacation ren… |
Long Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
335 ac | Also known as Fox Chain O'Lakes Located 40 miles northwest of Chicago, the Fox Chain O’Lakes is one of the most popular inland water sport destinations in the state of Illinois. The… |
Bangs Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
306 ac | Bangs Lake is a natural glacial lake located in northeastern Illinois’ Lake County. Bangs Lake is surrounded by the developing northern suburbs of Chi… |