Largest lakes & reservoirs in Chicagoland Region, IL by shoreline length
The length of the exterior shoreline around a lake is measured at the lake’s normal elevation. The shoreline length can be considerably shorter or longer when lake water levels are lower or higher than normal. A lake with many coves has a much longer shoreline than a lake of similar surface area that is nearly circular in shape.When known, the shoreline miles that we report in our statistics include only the lake’s exterior shoreline, and exclude the shorelines of islands located within a lake’s boundaries. In lakes with many islands, those islands’ combined shorelines may exceed a lake’s exterior shoreline.
You can find many of the world’s longest-shoreline lakes on LakeLubbers. Note: For some lakes, "Longest Shorelines" data is unknown or does not apply, so this table may display 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 longest shoreline length in miles. 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  |
Shoreline length in miles |
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) |
5,463 mi | 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) |
1,638 mi | 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) |
488 mi | 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) |
37 mi | 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) |
22 mi | 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) |
9 mi | 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,… |
| Wonder Lake (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
7 mi | 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… |
| Bangs Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
6 mi | Bangs Lake is a natural glacial lake located in northeastern Illinois’ Lake County. Bangs Lake is surrounded by the developing northern suburbs of Chi… |
| Gages Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3 mi | Gages Lake, in the Chicagoland Region of Illinois, is the perfect example of why those “in the know” love Lake County. USNews recently listed the Gage… |
| Deep Lake IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3 mi | Even in a county with hundreds of lakes, Deep Lake stands out. Located in Lake County, in the Chicagoland Region of Illinois, private Deep Lake is not… |
| Antioch Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3 mi | Also known as Lake Antioch Antioch Lake is a privately owned lake offering lakeside luxury within commuting distance of Chicago or Milwaukee. Located in Antioch Township in far… |
| Dunns Lake, IL (Chicagoland Region, IL, Illinois, US Midwest Region, USA) |
3 mi | Also known as Fox Chain O'Lakes If a vacation on the Fox River Chain of Lakes appeals to you, Dunns Lake in the Chicagoland Region is just the ticket. This small lake, reached via a… |