According to ehotelat, the state of Illinois is best known for the metropolis of Chicago, but also for the former US President Lincoln, who lived and was buried here. In addition to Chicago with numerous sights and shopping opportunities, Illinois has other interesting highlights to offer.
Illinois borders Lake Michigan, where you can enjoy quiet days in nature. The smaller towns in Illinois are also very interesting, and where you can get an insight into American country life.
The wide open spaces of the state that have not yet been built on and where you can find a little distance from the hectic pace of everyday life are also attractive. These areas are also great for hiking or sporting activities.
The Mississippi River flows through Illinois, on the banks of which you can find peace and quiet. People who are close to nature get their money’s worth in Illinois as well as those who love life in the big city.
Illinois geography and map
Illinois – The heart of the Midwest
The state of Illinois presents itself with a diverse landscape and therefore very attractive. Dense forests, picturesque rivers and waterfalls are just as much a part of the landscape as extensive prairie and hilly farm landscapes, unusual rock formations and gorges.
Located in the heart of the Midwest, Illinois is roughly three-quarters surrounded by water. While the Mississippi forms the approximately 800 kilometers long western border to Iowa (northwest) and Missouri (southwest), the Ohio – the 1,579 kilometers long tributary of the Mississippi with the most water – is the boundary to neighboring Kentucky in the southeast. To the east forms the Wabash River part of the Indiana border; in the northeast, a common border with Michigan runs through Lake Michigan. Its northern neighbor – and without a water limit – is the state of Wisconsin.
Together with Indiana and Kentucky, the southeast of the state of Illinois forms a triangle.
Other important rivers in Illinois include the 440-kilometer-long Illinois River and the 515-kilometer-long Kaskasia River – both flow into the Mississippi – as well as the Embarras, which are 354 kilometers long, and the Sangamon River (402 kilometers), which flow into the Wabash (765 kilometers) or flow into the Illinois River.
The highest point in the state is Charles Mount in County Jo Daviess, at 376 meters. The lowest point at 85 meters is found at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers in Alexander County in the metropolitan area of Cairo.
Illinois can be divided into three main geographic regions. Northern Illinois, the first region, is largely made up of the ever-growing Greater Chicago Areaas well as the adjacent Lake Michigan. With a population of 2.8 million people, Chicago is one of the largest (3rd place) cities in the USA and, due to its favorable river and lake location, is one of the most important commercial cities in the country. With an area of 57,800 square kilometers, Lake Michigan is one of the five Great Lakes in North America. As the only one of these Great Lakes, Lake Michigan is entirely on the territory of the United States. About 12 million people live along the coast of the lake, the southern tip of which is heavily industrialized.
The second major area, Central Illinois, is also known as the Heart of Illinois and is home to the capital, Springfield. The landscape is dominated by prairies, cities of medium and small size as well as agricultural areas with grain and soy cultivation and pastures for cattle breeding.
Southern Illinois differs from the other two regions in that it has a milder climate. The landscape is characterized by fields, ridges and valleys as well as extensive, dense forests, such as the Shawnee National Forest or the Illinois Ozarks.
