The second largest land impoundment in Illinois and a portion of the third largest river system in the world were both named ‘Wonders of Illinois’ by the Illinois State Bureau of Tourism on April 30.  Rend Lake and the Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway, part of the Mississippi River, were announced as wonders at the conclusion of an online competition.

Rend Lake, located in Franklin and Jefferson counties, was completed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1971.  The 18,900-acre lake is about 13 miles long and three miles wide with 162 miles of shoreline. 

The lake draws more than three million visitors a year, according to Jim Lynch, the lake’s operations manager.  Visitors can enjoy nearly 20,000 acres of public land, close to 800 campsites, hiking and biking trails, 27 boat ramps, beaches, numerous lakeside picnic facilities, as well as hunting and fishing opportunities.

The public lands are home to deer, quail, rabbits, squirrels, doves, turkeys, ducks and geese.  The lake is stocked with largemouth bass, crappie, bluegill, channel catfish and white bass.

The 33-mile Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway begins in Hartford at the intersection of Illinois Route 3 and New Poag Road.  The byway winds west and north via Illinois Routes 3, 143 and 100.  Illinois Route 100 takes visitors outside of Alton and bends along the forested river bluffs approximately 25 miles to its ending point in Grafton at Pere Marquette State Park. 

The byway is a natural wonder of the region where visitors can see the convergence of three great rivers - the Mississippi, Missouri and Illinois.  Sites along the route include the Army Corps of Engineers’ Melvin Price Locks and Dam in Alton, Illinois, as well as the National Great Rivers Museum, located next to the lock and dam.  The Army Corps’ Rivers Project Office offers numerous boating, fishing, hiking and wildlife viewing opportunities along the byway, and the area is a renowned bird flyway.

The other wonders of Illinois are: Wrigley Field in Chicago, Baha'i House of Worship in Wilmette (Chicagoland), Starved Rock State Park in Utica, Allerton Park and Retreat Center in Monticello, and Black Hawk State Historic Site in Rock Island. 

Information about all Seven Wonders is available online at http://www.enjoyillinois.com/sevenwonders/

Additional information about the Army Corps of Engineers’ sites is online at:

Rend Lake - http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rend/

Rivers Project Office - http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Rivers/

National Great Rivers Museum - http://www.mvs.usace.army.mil/Recreation/RiversProject/museum.html

Other Articles:
CEREMONY TO CELEBRATE REND LAKE AS ONE OF ILLINOIS’ 7 WONDERS

Meeting of Great Rivers Byway is One of Illinois' Seven Wonders

Rend Lake                 

Rend Lake                 

Bluffs Along the Great River Road               

Mel Price Lock and Dam