Crab Orchard Lake

About Crab Orchard Lake

Crab Orchard Lake is one of three reservoirs located just a few miles east of Carbondale, Illinois, home to Crab Orchard Lake, the largest of its kind in the United States.

The reservoir covers 6,695 hectares and was built in the early 20th century as part of the Carbondale Water Treatment Plant (CTP) project. It flows into Crab Orchard Lake, the largest reservoir in Illinois and the second largest in North America.

After World War II, the project was transferred to the War Department, which acquired 12,000 acres, and Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge was established. In the early 20th century, extensive agriculture and deforestation exhausted arable land and forest for orchards. The Resettlement Administration acquired 32,500 acres, starting with accounts that included 1,200 acres of land in the eastern part of the refuge and 2,400 acres in southern Illinois.

Crab Orchard Lake is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the USA and the second largest in Illinois. The lake is at its eastern end about 400 meters deep, with a depth of about 25 feet that can be reached from the western end.

Crab Orchard Lake is teeming with fish, including a healthy stock of white mouthed perch. One of the largest perches caught at Crab Obchards Lake weighed an impressive 10.6 pounds. The lake is surrounded by a fully equipped marina with a paved boat mooring and boat parking. Fishing, boating, fishing, kayaking and other recreational activities on the lake are popular summer activities.

The Illinois Department of Health has warned of the potential health effects of fishing in Crab Obchards Lake. Other fish species that differ from whitefish and flatfish, such as bluefish, black perch and white perch.

White-tailed deer are usually seen in abundance at dusk and dusk, and white-tailed deer are common in the crab Obchards Lake. For visitors who prefer to explore on foot, the refuge offers miles of hiking trails. A short visit to this refuge will introduce visitors to the flora and fauna of the area. More than half a million people visit Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge each year to enjoy the natural beauty and wildlife of this picturesque area in the heart of Illinois.

The refuge also features a number of areas closed to the public, such as Crab Obchards Lake and Crab Orchard Lake State Park, as well as some of the most scenic areas in the state.

More than 200 bird species live here, including Canada geese, ducks, Canada gull and many other bird of prey. Water birds such as the blue heron and the Canada goose are also found in the refuge. Take time to enjoy Crab Orchard Lake, one of the most beautiful lakes in Illinois, with spectacular views of Lake Michigan and the Illinois River. Although Crab Orchard Lake is within the Crab and Obchards Wildlife Refuge, the coast has been overrun with resorts and residential developments.