Illinois River

High school (ages 12+)
Geography

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/illinois-river

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. How long is the Illinois River?Approximately 273 miles (439 km)
2. How big is the Illinois River?28,756.6 square miles (74,479 km2)
3. What is the primary confluence point?Chicago metropolitan area (joining of Des Plaines and Kankakee Rivers)
4. What is the terminal confluence point?Near Grafton, Illinois (joining the Mississippi River)
5. Where does the Illinois River begin?It begins where the Des Plaines River and the Kankakee River meet, close to the Chicago area.
6. Why is the Illinois River important for boats and shipping?Because it was turned into the Illinois Waterway, boats can travel from Lake Michigan all the way to the Mississippi River. This makes it a very important route for moving goods.

Hydro-corridor: A geographical area defined by a significant river system used for transportation and commerce.
Illinois Waterway: A navigable system of rivers and canals linking Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River, with the Illinois River as its central component.
Limnology: The scientific study of the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of inland waters, such as lakes and rivers.
Portage: The carrying of boats or goods overland between two bodies of water.