Chain O'Lakes
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With over 7,100 acres (29 km²) of water, the Fox River's Chain O'Lakes is the second largest inland water-oriented recreational asset in Northeastern Illinois and ranks second in popularity in the entire United States. With its 15 lakes, 40 miles (64 km) of Fox River and over 450 mi (724 km) of shoreline, the system accommodates a range of water-borne activities including hunting, boating, fishing, birding, water skiing, jet skiing and swimming. Boat HP is unrestricted. The system is centrally located approximately one hour's drive from Chicago, Milwaukee or Rockford. The lakes were formed by glaciers that moved across northern Illinois. The Fox Chain of Lakes are generally shallow with the average depth around ten feet, but are nonetheless navigable. The Chain consists of nine major lakes; including Fox, Marie, Catherine, Channel, Nippersink, Pistakee, Grass, Bluff and Petite Lakes. The lakes are connected by a series of small waterways, which allows boats to travel between lakes. The Chain is fed by the Fox River, which is a tributary of the Illinois River.
The Illinois DNR manages the 2,793-acre (11 km²) Chain O'Lakes State Park on the west shore of the lake. The park help preserve some of the chain's shores from development in recent years from the sprawl of Chicago that has affected the lakes. More homes are being built around the lakes, which has been a recreational area for Chicago and its surrounding communities since the late 19th century.