Great Loop: Downbound on the Illinois River, Part 1
It was a gray, overcast and drizzly day for our Chicago departure . As we cruised through town on the Chicago River, the tops of the buildings disappeared in the clouds. A left turn took us into the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. This was built over a hundred years ago to prevent Chicago River from carrying sewage and garbage into Lake Michigan, the source of Chicago's drinking water. The 1900's solution was to build a canal to reverse the flow of the Chicago River so it flowed in reverse and it's waters would eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico. To accomplish this, a 28 mile canal was dug to connect the Chicago River to the Illinois River, which connected with the Mississippi River and eventually the Gulf of Mexico. Quite a replumbing job! Not sure the people downstream were thrilled if they knew about it. To insure the Chicago River remained isolated from Lake Michigan, a lock was build at the mouth of the river to further protect...