Countryside Lake facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Countryside Lake |
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 Countryside Lake
Location in Illinois
Countryside Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°14′48″N 88°01′48″W / 42.24667°N 88.03000°W |
| Type | Reservoir |
| Built | 1926 |
| Max. depth | 10 ft (3.0 m) |
| Surface elevation | 781 ft (238 m) |
Countryside Lake is a cool man-made lake located in Lake County, Illinois. It's a private lake right in the middle of the Countryside neighborhood. Only members of the Countryside Lake Association (CLA) and their guests can use it.
This lake was created in 1926. People built a dam at the end of a swampy stream. Then, they used special machines called dredging equipment to dig out the area. This made the stream much wider and deeper, turning it into the lake you see today.
Countryside Lake is pretty shallow, with a maximum depth of about 10 feet (3.0 m). This makes it perfect for fun activities like swimming and boating! It's also a smaller lake, covering about 120 acres (49 ha). Because of its size, only boats with 15 horsepower or less are allowed. This rule helps protect the lake's shoreline from damage.
The lake has one beach that usually has a lifeguard during the summer. At the beach, you'll find a playground, horseshoe pits, and many docks for boats. It's a great spot for families to enjoy the water!
How Countryside Lake Was Made
Countryside Lake was created by a person named Samuel Insull in 1926. It was a big project because there was only a swampy stream there at first.
Insull started by building a dam at the southeast end of the stream. Once the dam was finished, the stream began to fill up. Then, they brought in dredging equipment. These machines helped to dig out the land and shape the stream into the lake's current size and outline.
After the lake was finished, Insull built a hunting lodge right on its shores. This lodge is still standing today! The area around the lake grew into a neighborhood called Countryside. This neighborhood includes both Countryside Lake and Countryside Oaks.
Animals and Nature at the Lake
Countryside Lake is home to many different kinds of fish. It's also a popular stop for various birds that fly through the area during their migrations.
Some of the fish you might find in the lake include crappie, muskellunge, northern pike, walleye, largemouth bass, perch, bluegill, grass carp, sunfish, and catfish. Because there are so many fish, Countryside Lake is a very popular place for fishing!
