Chicago River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Chicago River |
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Chicago River at night in August 2015
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| Country | United States |
| State | Illinois |
| City | Chicago |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Michigan |
| Length | 156 mi (251 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Chicago River → South Branch → Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal → Des Plaines River → Illinois River → Mississippi River → Gulf of Mexico |
| Tributaries |
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The Chicago River is 156 miles long (251 km) and goes through the city of Chicago, Illinois, including the center of the city (the Chicago Loop). The river is not long, but it is known for being the reason why Chicago became an important place, as the connection between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi Valley waterways. The river is the only river in the world to be reversed (which is, made to flow backwards, in the opposite of its natural direction) by civil engineering.
Contents
History
In the 19th century through civil engineering, the flow of the river was reversed to head toward the Mississippi River basin, away from Lake Michigan. This was done for reasons of sanitation through the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. The Chicago River is also noted for the local custom of dyeing it green on St. Patrick's Day. The river is controlled for boats or ships going through the river.
The river is memorialized, in part, by two horizontal blue stripes on the Municipal Flag of Chicago. The river also serves as inspiration for one of Chicago's symbols: a three-branched, Y-shaped symbol (called the municipal device) is found on many buildings and other structures throughout Chicago; it represents the three branches of the Chicago River.
Main Stem
The Main Stem flows 1.5 miles (2.4 km) west from the direction at Lake Michigan; passing under the Outer Drive, Columbus Drive, Michigan Avenue, Wabash Avenue, State Street, Dearborn Street, Clark Street, La Salle Street, Wells Street, and Franklin Street bridges en route to the North Branch at Wolf Point.
At McClurg Court it passes the Nicholas J Melas Centennial Fountain, which was built in 1989 to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago; between May and October the fountain sends an arc of water over the river for ten minutes every hour.
For the Chicago Cubs rally and parade for their 2016 World Series Championship celebrations, the river was dyed Cubs blue.
North bank
On the north bank of the river, near the Chicago Landmark Michigan Avenue Bridge, is Pioneer Court, which marks the site where Jean Baptiste Point du Sable came to Chicago. Point du Sable is known as the founder of Chicago. On the south bank of the river is the site of Fort Dearborn. Well known buildings surrounding this area include the NBC Tower, the Tribune Tower, and the Wrigley Building.
Center
The river turns slightly to the south west between Michigan Avenue and State Street, passing the Trump International Hotel and Tower, 35 East Wacker, and 330 North Wabash. Turning west again the river passes Marina City, the Reid, Murdoch & Co. Building, Merchandise Mart, and 333 Wacker Drive.
Dyeing the river
St. Patrick's Day
As part of a more than fifty-year-old Chicago tradition, the Chicago River is dyed green in observance of St. Patrick's Day. The actual event occurs on the Saturday on or before March 17.
The tradition of dyeing the river green arose by accident when plumbers used fluorescein dye to trace sources of illegal pollution discharges. The dyeing of the river is still sponsored by the local plumbers union. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) disallowed the use of fluorescein for this purpose, since it was shown to be harmful to the river. The parade committee switched to a mix involving forty pounds of powdered vegetable dye. Though the committee closely guards the exact formula, they insist that it has been tested and verified safe for the environment.
The environmental organization Friends of the Chicago River disapproves of dyeing the river, saying the practice "gives the impression that it is lifeless and artificial", adding "Friends doesn’t think that the river should be treated as a decoration for an annual holiday, but treasured and cared for as the wonderful natural and recreational resource it deserves to be".
In 2009 First Lady Michelle Obama, a Chicago native, inspired by the river tradition, requested that the White House fountains be dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.
Images for kids
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Aerial view of the North Branch of the Chicago River, from the south, with Goose Island, near center
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The Chicago 'L' Ravenswood train (Brown Line) crossing the north branch of the Chicago River
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Kayakers take a break at Wolf Point with 333 West Wacker, Lake Street Bridge and the south skyline in the background
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A view of the Chicago River from the South Branch, looking toward the main stem (right) and the North Branch (upper left) at Wolf Point
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South Branch at Ping Tom Memorial Park
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View from the U.S. Turning Basin towards the Chicago Loop
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Passengers being rescued from the hull of the Eastland by the tugboat Kenosha in the Chicago River
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State Street Bridge raised to allow boats to pass
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The Link Bridge of Lake Shore Drive
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Near the mouth of the Chicago River 1831
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Near the mouth of the Chicago River 1838
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Near the mouth of the Chicago River 1893
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Near the mouth of the Chicago River c. late 1800s
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The river dyed green for Saint Patrick's Day in 2015
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The river dyed blue during the Chicago Cubs' 2016 World Series celebration
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See also
In Spanish: Río Chicago para niños
