Chicago River - Beauty and Headache

The Chicago River flows through urban and suburban communities, forest preserves, parks, industrial corridors, and downtown Chicago, supporting more than six million residents. Used for fishing, boating, transportation, and shipping, and featuring new riverfront amenities, the river is a significant economic asset. Once a corridor of commercial activity, the river has been transformed into a recreational area with sightseeing boats and kayaks. Along the banks are pedestrian friendly promenades lined with cafes and eateries.

Throughout the city and its nearby suburbs, 45 movable bridges span the Chicago river, many of them well-known and quite picturesque. Many of Chicago's greatest buildings border the Chicago river, making the river ideal for architectural boat tours. In 1999 Chicago's mayor Richard M. Daley initiated a project to turn Chicago's riverfront - at that time mostly inaccessible to the public - into a public walkway known as the Riverwalk. The first completed section, on the south bank of the river between State Street and Lake Michigan opened in 2009. Cafes line the popular walkway and you can find attractions such as boat cruises and water taxis along the way. A modern day miracle occurs each year as part of the St. Patrick's Day Parade celebration when the Chicago River turns an incredible shade of Irish green - probably with a little help from a leprechaun who seems to just appear at this time each year.

Since the 1980s, water quality in the Chicago River has significantly improved, and populations of fish and wildlife, such as eagle, beaver, and mink, have increased. But a lot of work still needs to be done. The Chicago River is one of the only rivers in the U.S. where undisinfected sewage is dumped into the river. Every day, the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD) dumps 1.2 billion gallons of undisinfected wastewater into the river. This wastewater comprises 70 percent of all the water in the Chicago River, and threatens the health of area residents. In contrast, nearly all other sewage dischargers in large US cities - and most smaller ones as well - disinfect their wastewater.

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

Order your "Chicago River - Beauty and Headache" Print at       Fine Art America
or directly from: CT-Graphics.com
Fine Art quality Photo canvas prints, framed prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, posters and greeting cards - Image Customization - Old or Damaged or Polaroid Photo Restoration - Conversion of Slides and Paper Pictures to Digital (CD/DVD)

Photography lovers who liked this also liked:

river boat cruise art
river boat cruise canvas prints
river boat cruise framed prints
river boat cruise acrylic prints
river boat cruise metal prints
river boat cruise prints
river boat cruise posters
river boat cruise greeting cards
river boat cruise photos

boat tour art
boat tour canvas prints
boat tour framed prints
boat tour acrylic prints
boat tour metal prints
boat tour prints
boat tour posters
boat tour greeting cards
boat tour photos

cruise ship art
cruise ship canvas prints
cruise ship framed prints
cruise ship acrylic prints
cruise ship prints
cruise ship posters
cruise ship greeting cards
cruise ship photos

Chicago Navy Pier Ferris Wheel

In a city like Chicago with so much to see, why not get a panoramic view from 150 feet above street level, over the backdrop of Lake Michigan? Built in 1995, modeled after the very first, 264 feet high Ferris wheel (surpassing the Eiffel Tower !), which was built on speculation by George W. Ferris for Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, the permanent 150-foot-high Navy Pier Ferris wheel provides unparalleled views of the Chicago skyline and lakefront. The Pier's Ferris wheel has 40 gondolas, each seating up to 6 passengers.

Navy Pier's most popular 15-story attraction is practically part of the city's skyline. It's hard to miss it as you approach Navy Pier since the impressive white structure is almost as wide as it is tall. More than 60,000 tourists and Chicagoans per month come to Navy Pier to ride the Ferris wheel and take in amazing views of the city and Lake Michigan. The views are awesome and the music and narration is fun. Lots of Sinatra and Dean Martin tunes whisk you away to 1960. In the evening, the Ferris wheel's 40 spokes, spanning a diameter of 140 feet, are illuminated by thousands of sparkling lights. Riding the ferris wheel during sunset or at night is one of the most simplistic romantic things to do in the city.

It's a great choice for just about anybody - a parent with kids, a smoochey couple, a Chicago newcomer. This wheel of wonder can make the entire city of Chicago feel like it's yours alone. So climb aboard and enjoy what seems to be the crown jewel of the Navy Pier experience.

© CT-Graphics - Christine Till

Order your "Chicago Navy Pier Ferris Wheel" Print at       Fine Art America
or directly from: CT-Graphics.com
Fine Art quality Photo canvas prints, framed prints, acrylic prints, metal prints, posters and greeting cards - Image Customization - Old or Damaged or Polaroid Photo Restoration - Conversion of Slides and Paper Pictures to Digital (CD/DVD)

Photography lovers who liked this also liked:

fair art
fair canvas prints
fair framed prints
fair acrylic prints
fair metal prints
fair prints
fair posters
fair greeting cards
fair photos

amusement park art
amusement park canvas prints
amusement park framed prints
amusement park acrylic prints
amusement park metal prints
amusement park prints
amusement park posters
amusement park greeting cards
amusement park photos

amusement parks art
amusement parks canvas prints
amusement parks framed prints
amusement parks acrylic prints
amusement parks prints
amusement parks posters
amusement parks greeting cards
amusement parks photos