Illinois River

The Illinois River, seen from Starved Rock from

Catchment area of ​​the Illinois River

Ferry across the Illinois River in Kamp Ville

The Illinois River is one of the main tributaries of the Mississippi River, about 440 km long and drains an area of 72 701 square kilometers.

The river runs completely within the U.S. state of Illinois. He had a great importance as a link between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi for the Indians and French traders in the 17th and 18th centuries. Since the 19th century it forms a part of the Illinois Waterway.

Course

The Illinois is formed by the confluence of the Kankakee River and Des Plaines River in the eastern part of Grundy County, approximately 16 km southwest of Joliet. It flows through the central part of Illinois and ends in Jersey County (just 60 km north- west of St. Louis ) in the Mississippi River at Grafton.

Places at the Illinois River ( in flow direction)

• Morris
• Seneca
• Marseilles
• Ottawa
• Naplate
• North Utica
• Oglesby
• La Salle
• Peru
• Spring Valley
• Hennepin
• Henry

• Lacon
• Chillicothe
• Rome
• Spring Bay
• Peoria Heights
• Peoria
• East Peoria
• Creve Coeur
• Pekin
• Kingston Mines
• Liverpool
• Havana

• Bath
• Browning
• Beardstown
• Meredosia
• Naples
• Valley City
• Florence
• Kampsville
• Hardin
• Grafton