To many Chicago residents, the Chicago River is a body of water dyed green on St. Patrick’s Day, or a river that flows backwards from its original mouth at Lake Michigan, or the cause of a 1992 flood in the Loop. The river is also a part of a system that includes the North Branch, South Branch, and Main Stem of the Chicago River, as well as 52 miles of constructed waterways. The river system continues to play a central role in the history and development of Chicago and is an successful example of the link between nature, natural resources, and urban development.
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