Chicago and the Great Lakes: What Body of Water Surrounds the City?

Often mistaken for being located on an ocean, Chicago is actually situated on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes in North America. This comprehensive guide will help clarify misconceptions and provide key information about Chicago's location on one of the five largest freshwater lakes in the world.

The Great Lakes: Not an Ocean, but a Significant Body of Water

The misconception that Chicago is on an ocean is understandable, given its substantial shoreline, but the Great Lakes are distinguished from oceans. While they are enormous bodies of freshwater comparable in size and importance to some oceanic features, they are not classified as oceans due to their unique characteristics and ecological significance.

Lake Michigan: Jokingly Known as the Unsalted Ocean

Much like a tongue-in-cheek description, Lake Michigan is often humorously referred to as the "unsalted ocean." This playful moniker stems from its immense size, earning it a reputation akin to a vast ocean, despite being purely freshwater. The connection between Lake Michigan and the Atlantic Ocean occurs through a series of interconnected waterways:

Through Lake Huron, via the Straits of Mackinac By Lake Saint Clair Through the Detroit River By Lake Erie, via Niagara Falls Through Lake Ontario, and finally By the Saint Lawrence River

The Saint Lawrence River is a natural waterway that connects the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean, serving as the final link in this extensive water network. For those unfamiliar with the map, Chicago indeed shares a border with Lake Michigan, one of the world's largest lakes.

Chicago's Location and its Freshwater Supply

Chicago is not located on an ocean; it is nestled on the southwestern extremity of Lake Michigan. At approximately 1,125 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean, Chicago is relatively far from any coast and is well within the vast watershed of one of the five Great Lakes. Lake Michigan, home to numerous ports and cities, is crucial for the city's freshwater supply and economic activities.

Details About Lake Michigan

As one of the five Great Lakes of North America, Lake Michigan is uniquely situated within the United States, making it the only lake of the five entirely within American borders. It is the second-largest by volume and the third-largest by surface area, following Lake Superior and Lake Huron. spanning over 22,300 square miles, Lake Michigan is roughly equivalent in size to the state of West Virginia. Technically, the lake shares surface elevation with its eastern counterpart, Lake Huron, through the Straits of Mackinac.

Its western and eastern borders are shared by the U.S. states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan, with major ports such as Chicago, Milwaukee, Green Bay Wisconsin, Gary Indiana, and Muskegon Michigan, along its shores. The name of the lake is derived from the Ojibwe word "michi-gami," meaning "great water."

Conclusion

Clearly, Chicago may not be on an ocean, but it is surrounded by the vast and majestic Lake Michigan, one of the Great Lakes. Understanding the geographical context and recognizing the extensive network of freshwater lakes interconnected through natural waterways helps to dispel common misconceptions and highlights the unique position and significance of this major American city.