The Illinois River

Its history

by Justine-Elise Bouchard and Lori-Ann Matte

 

The Illinois River is located in the American state, the Illinois. It is bordered to the northeast by Lake Michigan. Surrounding states are Wisconsin to the north, Iowa and Missouri to the west, Kentucky and Indiana south east. The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 273 miles (439 km) long. The river drains a large section of central Illinois, extending into Wisconsin and Indiana. This river was important among Native Americans and French traders because it was the principal water route connecting the Great Lakes with the Mississippi. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, the residents of the Illinois state were deeply involved in harvesting the river's fish, mussels, and ice. They were economically and culturally dependent on the river which brought up industries such as tourism related to duck hunting and sport fishing and commercial fishing. After the construction of the Illinois and Michigan Canal and the Hennepin Canal in the 19th century, the role of the river as link between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi became the era of modern industrial shipping.

 

To see amazing pictures of our two travellers, to the following website! 

 

http://www.wildravenadventure.com/#!Hardin/zoom/c1ise/image21rf

 

 

 

Sources :

http://www.museum.state.il.us/River

http://en.wikipedia.org/Illinois_River

http://ilrdss.sws.uiuc.edu/links/rivers.asp?ri=12

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_River