The Only River In The World That Flows Backwards

The Chicago River, which runs through the heart of Chicago, has an interesting past. This river is the only one in the world that runs backwards, and it also travels through numerous systems and canals which is an interesting fact about Chicago. In order to keep the sewage out of Lake Michigan's water supply, a reversal procedure was developed. The river's reversal was acknowledged as the biggest public earth-moving project to ever be finished. It was also praised as a superb feat of engineering.

The Chicago River transported water slowly from the plains to Lake Michigan during the majority of its history. The main source of drinking water for Chicago was contaminated when raw sewage and other contaminants were poured into the river. In response to growing public health concerns, authorities decided to permanently change the river's flow so that its contaminated water would instead flow into the Mississippi River.

Between the Chicago River and the rivers that flow into the Mississippi, a 28-mile canal was constructed. The canal was built to deepen as it travels west, allowing water from the Chicago River to flow through. On a chilly January morning in 1900, a steam shovel removed the final bit of mud separating the river from the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, allowing the river to empty into the canal and start drawing water from the lake.

The American Society of Civil Engineers named the eight-year undertaking one of the seven engineering wonders in 1955. The Chicago River system was designated a "Civil Engineering Monument of the Millennium" by the organization in 1999.