Are there sharks in the Chicago river?

No shark reports have been scientifically documented in the lake. The Illinois River has seen at least one documented case. Dams now keep any wandering sharks from entering the river.



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There are no sharks in Lake Michigan. Most sharks require salt water and most freshwater sharks don't live anywhere near the Great Lakes. Periodically there are rumors of Bull sharks swimming up the Mississippi River and into the Illinois River to get to Lake Michigan, but this would be an unlikely journey.

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While there have been past “sightings,” most have turned out to be pranks or misidentifications. The reality is that the largest of the Great Lakes (Lake Superior and Michigan) are extremely deep lakes that are too cold for sharks.

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Alligators are rarely found in the Great Lakes. Although some alligators thrive in freshwater, it's just too cold in the north for them to survive. They don't typically live farther north than North Carolina. It's unclear how the alligator arrived to Lake Michigan.

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Lake Nicaragua is one of the largest freshwater lakes in the Americas and bull sharks travel up the San Juan River and through a series of eight rapids in a similar manner to salmon to reach the lake, where they may stay for several years.

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Lake Nicaragua is the only freshwater lake containing oceanic animal life, including sharks, swordfish, and tarpon.

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The most dangerous predator in the Great Lakes is the sea lamprey, which was actually introduced as an invasive species. Primarily, it goes after a sports fish called the lake trout, often wounding them as they kill them off. It is also attracted to the blood and bodily fluids of any creature.

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Unlike most sharks, bull sharks can survive in freshwater for long periods of time. They have even been found in the Mississippi and Amazon Rivers. They prefer shallow coastal water, which means they can often come into contact with humans.

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Is the Chicago River Safe to Swim in? Unfortunately, despite all of these efforts, we still do not recommend taking a dip in the Chicago River. The water quality has improved drastically since the 1970s, but the waterways still face challenges. Much less litter pollutes the banks, but unseen dangers still lie below.

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Lake sturgeons are the biggest fish in the Great Lakes.

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Lake Superior is the world's largest freshwater lake by area (31,700 mi2 /82,100 km2). It is also the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes, with a maximum depth of 406 meters (1,332 feet). By most measures, it is the healthiest of all the Great Lakes.

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These lakes are the perfect backdrop for swimming, boating, and other water-related activities. But there can be more danger in these Great Lakes waves than what you'd find in the ocean. The Great Lakes are more than capable of generating waves over 10 feet high, despite being smaller than our oceans.

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The World's Most Shark-Infested Beaches
  • New Smyrna Beach, Florida. West Coast Scapes/Shutterstock. ...
  • Makena Beach, Maui. Billy McDonald/Shutterstock. ...
  • Bolinas, California. cdrin/Shutterstock. ...
  • Lake Nicaragua, Nicaragua. ...
  • West End, Grand Bahamas. ...
  • Umhlanga Rocks, South Africa. ...
  • Coffin Bay, Australia. ...
  • Topsail Island, North Carolina.


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But Heithaus said it would not be possible for a bull shark to reach the Great Lakes on their own because most don't travel very far upstream. If one did reach the lakes, it would not be able to survive due to the cold water temperature.

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Lake Michigan is generally clean and safe for swimming but it can become contaminated with harmful bacteria.

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