Chicago is the major U.S. city located on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan.
The city grew beside the lake because its natural harbor and access to inland waterways supported trade, shipping, and industry. Chicago’s lakefront extends for roughly 26 miles, or 42 kilometres, within the city.
Lake Michigan also borders Milwaukee, Green Bay, Gary, and several other communities. Chicago is distinctive because it occupies a major position at the southern end of the lake while also connecting the Great Lakes basin with the Mississippi River basin through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal.
The city’s famous lakefront is shaped by beaches, parks, harbors, and the massive breakwaters that protect the shoreline. It is sometimes confused with Detroit, which lies beside the Detroit River rather than directly on a Great Lake.