Grays Lake (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Grays Lake |
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 Grays Lake
Location in Illinois
Grays Lake
Location in the United States
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| Location | Lake County, Illinois |
| Coordinates | 42°20′28″N 88°02′42″W / 42.341132°N 88.045034°W |
| Lake type | kettle lake |
| Basin countries | United States |
| Surface area | 80 acres (32 ha) |
| Max. depth | 18 feet (5.5 m) |
Grays Lake is a beautiful 80-acre (32 ha) lake found in the Village of Grayslake, located in Lake County, Illinois. It's a special type of lake called a kettle lake. Kettle lakes form when large chunks of ice from glaciers melt, leaving behind a hollow in the ground that fills with water.
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Understanding Grays Lake: Facts and Figures
Grays Lake holds about 112 million gallons of water and covers an area of around 80 acres (320,000 m2). Imagine 60 football fields – that's roughly how big the lake is!
How Deep is Grays Lake?
At its deepest point, Grays Lake is about 18 feet (5.5 m) deep. That's like stacking three average-sized adults on top of each other! On average, the lake is about 4 feet deep.
Size and Shoreline
The lake is nearly 0.3 miles (0.48 km) wide and 0.53 miles (0.85 km) long. If you walked all the way around the edge, you would travel about 2 miles (3.2 km) along its shoreline.
Rules for Enjoying Grays Lake
To keep Grays Lake safe and healthy for everyone, there are some important rules to follow.
Boating on the Lake
Generally, you are not allowed to use boats with motors on Grays Lake. This helps keep the water clean and quiet for wildlife and people enjoying activities like kayaking or paddleboarding.
Fishing Regulations
If you enjoy fishing, you need to know the rules for keeping fish. For Largemouth bass, they must be at least 15 inches long to keep. For northern pike, they need to be 24 inches long or longer. Also, you can only use two fishing lines at a time. These rules help make sure there are enough fish for the future!
The Grays Lake Watershed: Where Water Flows
Grays Lake is part of a larger system called a watershed. A watershed is an area of land where all the water drains into a common point, like a lake, river, or ocean.
Grays Lake's Place in the Water System
Water from Grays Lake flows into Mill Creek. Mill Creek then joins the Des Plaines River, which flows into the Illinois River. The Illinois River then empties into the mighty Mississippi River. Finally, the Mississippi River carries all that water all the way to the Gulf of Mexico, which is part of the Atlantic Ocean. So, a drop of water from Grays Lake could eventually travel thousands of miles to the ocean!
Amazing Animals of Grays Lake
Grays Lake is home to many different kinds of animals, from fish swimming in the water to birds flying overhead.
Fish You Might Find
In the waters of Grays Lake, you can find many types of fish, including:
Mammals Living Near the Lake
Look closely around the lake, and you might spot some mammals like:
Amphibians in the Area
The most common amphibian you'll find here is the Frog. Listen for their croaking sounds, especially in the spring!
Birds Soaring and Swimming
Many beautiful birds visit or live around Grays Lake, including:
- Turkey vulture
- American robin
- American goldfinch
- Blue heron
- Mallard duck
- Swan
- Dark-eyed junco
- Red-tailed hawk
Reptiles of Grays Lake
One reptile you might see is the Common snapping turtle. These turtles can grow quite large!
Plants Around Grays Lake
The plants around the lake are just as important as the animals. They provide food and shelter for wildlife.
Pickerel Rush
One common plant you'll see is the Pickerel rush. This plant often grows in shallow water along the edges of the lake.
Jones Island: A Special Spot
At the western end of Grays Lake, there's a piece of land called Jones Island. This area used to be a marsh, which is a type of wetland. It was later filled in to create more space for people to enjoy the lake and its surroundings.
