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Western Great Lakes: Illinois, Minnesota, Wisconsin

1,235 feet (376 m) above sea level, it’s the state’s highest elevation. The Shawnee Hills is a band of rocky uplands, bluffs , valleys, and woodlands. It extends across part of southern Illinois. Much of this beauti- ful and rugged area is included within Shawnee National Forest. It’s a favorite destination for nature lovers. Rivers run along a significant por- tion of Illinois’ borders. The Wabash and Ohio mark the state’s southeast-

than 60 miles (97 km) of coastline along Lake Michigan. Most of Illinois’ land consists of plains . Before it was extensively set- tled, this land was covered with grass. This earned Illinois its nickname: the Prairie State. Thanks to the fertile soil, Illinois is today a leading agricultural state. A small area in northwestern Illinois has large hills and valleys. Charles Mound is located there. At

Words to Understand in This Chapter

Algonquian— a family of American Indian languages previously spoken in the eastern part of North America. bluff— a high, steep bank. confederation— an alliance or union of groups. data— factual information. expedition— a journey undertaken for a specific reason, such as exploration. export— to send goods to another country; a product that is sent overseas. Jesuit— a member of the Society of Jesus, an order of Catholic priests. locks— gated enclosures on a canal, which raise or lower vessels by changing the water level. plain— a large area of land that is flat or rolling and has no trees. portage— to haul a boat or boats across land from one body of water to another. pharmaceuticals— medicinal drugs.