Chicago is located in northeastern Illinois along the southwestern shores of Lake Michigan, serving as the principal city of the Chicago Metropolitan Area in the Midwest and Great Lakes region. The city sits on a continental divide at the historic Chicago Portage, connecting the Mississippi River and Great Lakes watersheds. Two rivers—the Chicago River downtown and the Calumet River in the industrial South Side—flow through the city, shaping both its economy and urban development.

Lake Michigan has long been integral to Chicago’s history and commerce. While the Chicago River once handled most waterborne cargo, modern freighters primarily use Lake Calumet Harbor on the South Side. The lake also moderates the city’s climate, slightly warming waterfront neighborhoods in winter and cooling them in summer.

Founded in 1837, Chicago’s early development centered around the mouth of the Chicago River. Today, the city’s central areas remain relatively flat, with an average elevation of 579 feet (176.5 m). The lowest point lies along Lake Michigan at 578 feet (176.2 m), while the highest point, at 672 feet (205 m), is the Blue Island ridge on the far South Side.

Chicago’s lakefront is lined with parks and public beaches, including Lincoln Park, Grant Park, Burnham Park, and Jackson Park, and stretches for 26 miles (42 km) with 24 beaches. Landfill projects have expanded usable space along the waterfront, creating Navy Pier, Northerly Island, the Museum Campus, and portions of McCormick Place Convention Center. High-rise commercial and residential buildings cluster near the waterfront, taking advantage of the scenic location.

The broader metropolitan area is informally called “Chicagoland,” encompassing the city and its surrounding suburbs, though definitions vary by organization. The city’s unique combination of flat terrain, rivers, and lakefront continues to shape Chicago’s identity as a major hub of commerce, culture, and recreation.