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Illinois > Illinois Lakes and Reservoirs

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Illinois Lakes and Reservoirs

Carlyle Lake- A tremendous variety of outdoor recreational opportunities and natural beauty awaits you at Carlyle Lake State Fish and Wildlife Area, 60 miles east of St. Louis, near Vandalia.
Farmdale Dam- Farmdale Dam is a well known place for mountain bike enthusiasts as well as people simply looking for a relaxing place to hike or have a picnic.
Illinois Waterway- The Illinois Waterway extends from the mouth of the Chicago River, on Lake Michigan, following the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, the lower Des Plaines River, and the Illinois River to the Mississippi at Grafton, Illinois.
Lake Shelbyville- Lake Shelbyville, located in central Illinois, offers beaches, hiking trails, marinas, boat ramps, and over 1500 campsites.
Lock & Dam 52 + Ohio River- Dam 52 is one of the only few wicker dams remaining on the Ohio River.
Lock & Dam 53 + Ohio River- Locks and Dam No. 53 is located on the Ohio River approximately 11 miles upstream of Mound City, Illinois.
Rend Lake- Outdoor sportsmen will find a haven of recreational activities at Rend Lake. With 18,900 acres of water and over 20,000 acres of land in Jefferson and Franklin counties, Rend Lake provides ample opportunities for hunting and fishing. Rend Lake is located between Mt. Vernon and Benton, just off interstate 57.
Smithland Lock And Dam +Ohio River- The Smithland Navigation Project is located on the Ohio River at 918.5 River Miles below Point Bridge, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and 62.5 miles upstream of the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

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General Information

Description - Illinois has a million and a half acres of water from the blue waters of Lake Michigan to great rivers and smaller lakes and ponds.

Attractions - Lake Michigan is the major water resource. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains Lake Shelbyville, Carlyle Lake and Rend Lake. There are quite a few smaller lakes scattered throuhout Michigan.

Recreation - Fishing, Boating, camping and hunting, as well as all water sports are available on the lakes and reserviors of Michigan.

Climate - Illinois experiences four distinct seasons with varying weather throughout the year. Winter can be very cold. The highest humidity of the year occurs during this season averaging 70 to 75 percent. Average low temperatures in January dip to 20 degrees F with highs near 35 degrees F. Spring temperatures are mild with humidity below 70 percent. Temperatures during this season average between 32 and 50 degrees F. Summer is usually hot and humid in this Midwest state. Low temperatures remain in the low sixties with high temperatures near 90 degrees F. The highest rainfall of the year occurs during the summer months. Fall is an excellent time to visit the state with low humidity and rainfall and moderate temperatures.

Location - The locations of each lake or reservoir and driving instructions are available on the individual wildernet.com pages describing the lakes.

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Additional Information:
Illinois - Illinois is the sixth most populated state in the nation with Chicago being its largest city. State Parks dot the landscape of prairies, glacial lakes, farmland and forests.