The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River at approximately 273 miles in length. Located in the U.S. state of Illinois, the river has a drainage basin of 28,756.6 square miles. The Illinois River begins with the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee rivers in the Chicago metropolitan area, and it generally flows to the southwest ac…The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River at approximately 273 miles in length. Located in the U.S. state of Illinois, the river has a drainage basin of 28,756.6 square miles. The Illinois River begins with the confluence of the Des Plaines and Kankakee rivers in the Chicago metropolitan area, and it generally flows to the southwest across Illinois, until it empties into the Mississippi near Grafton, Illinois. Its drainage basin extends into southeastern Wisconsin, northwestern Indiana, and a very small area of southwestern Michigan in addition to central Illinois. Along its banks are several river ports, including the largest, Peoria, Illinois. Historic and recreation areas on the river include Starved Rock, and the internationally important wetlands of the Emiquon Complex and Dixon Waterfowl Refuge.
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