Physical Geography of Illinois

Illinois is in the Midwest Region of the United States. It is bordered by Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa and Wisconsin.


Climate- The climate of Illinois consists of a Continental Climate with hot summers and cold winters. There are noticeable differences in the temperature of Illinois from north to south due the the elongated shape of the state. Average winter temperatures are between 20-30 ° F and average summer temperatures between 70-80 ° F. In terms of weather, Illinois is occasionally hit by severe storms that include tornadoes, severe thunderstorms, and blizzards. The northern portion of the state receives an average of 34 inches of annual precipitation with the southern portion receiving 43 inches. The state also receives snow annually in which the northern portion gets 30 inches and the southern portion 10 inches. The state also battles with flooding during the spring months when there are heavy downpours and the snow and river ice melt.

State Tree: White Oak

Land- Illinois is mainly flat, located within the Central Lowlands region of the United States. The surface slopes gradually downward from the northeast to the southwest and reaches its lowest point, 279 ft. above sea level, in the extreme southwest at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers. The state's average elevation is 600 ft.  above sea level. During the last Ice Age, glaciers covered the state far south with only the lower south and a small section of the northwest free from glaciation. In the northwest section is the state's highest point, Charles Mound, reaching 1,235 feet. The American Bottom is located in Illinois which is a floodplain on the Mississippi River. 


Water- Illinois is bordered by two of the country's great rivers which are the Mississippi and the Ohio. The Mississippi forms the state's western boundary. The rivers flowing southwesterly into it drain much of the state. The main Mississippi tributary in Illinois is the Illinois River which flows across the central part of the state. Tributaries of the Illinois include the Kankakee, Des Plaines, Fox, and Sangamon. Other rivers that join the Mississippi include the Rock, Kaskaskia, and Big Muddy. The Ohio River forms the Illinois-Kentucky border. Its main tributary in Illinois is the Wabash River, which forms part of the Illinois-Indiana border. Illinois rivers that flow into the Wabash include the Little Wabash and Embarras rivers. Illinois has few large lakes. In northeastern Illinois are a number of small glacial lakes. Fox Lake, the largest, is part of the Chain O'Lakes, a group connected by the Fox River. Artificial lakes, formed by dams, are found in many parts of the state; among the large ones are Lake Shelbyville, Carlyle Lake, and Rend Lake. Many communities in northeastern Illinois get their water from Lake Michigan.

State Flower: Violet

State Grass: Big Blue stem

Vegetation- In the early 1800's, when rapid settlement began, tall prairie grasses covered most of northern and central Illinois. Forests covered the southern part of the state and extended as narrow strips along rivers far into the grasslands. By the early 20th century, most of the forests and all but tiny remnants of the grasslands had been turned into farmland. Forests presently cover only about 10 percent of the state. Virtually all the trees are hardwoods, mainly oaks. Most of the forests are privately owned and consist of scattered parcels on farms. The state tree in Illinois is the White Oak and the state flower is the violet. The state grass is the big blue stem.