Embarras River (Illinois) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Embarras River |
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The Embarras River at Lawrenceville
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| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Champaign, Illinois 40°05′22″N 88°15′30″W / 40.0894756°N 88.2583836°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Wabash River southeast of Lawrenceville, Illinois 397 ft (121 m) 38°38′35″N 87°37′02″W / 38.6431028°N 87.6172464°W |
| Length | 195 mi (314 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Embarras River → Wabash → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 407983 |
The Embarras River ( EM-brah) is a long river in southeastern Illinois, United States. It flows for about 195-mile (314 km). The river is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a bigger one. The Embarras joins the Wabash River.
From there, its waters travel through the Ohio River and the Mississippi River. Finally, they reach the Gulf of Mexico. The river helps drain a large area of farmland. Its name comes from French explorers. They used the word embarras to describe obstacles in a river, like logjams.
Contents
The River's Journey
The Embarras River starts in Champaign County. Its very beginning includes small ponds and creeks. You can find parts of it near the University of Illinois campus. It also flows through Meadowbrook Park in south Urbana.
The river generally flows south through several counties. These include Douglas, Coles, Cumberland, and Jasper Counties. In Jasper County, it turns to flow southeast. It continues this way through Richland, Crawford, and Lawrence Counties.
In Coles County, there is a dam that creates Lake Charleston. Some parts of the river's lower course have been straightened. This is called "channelization." It helps water flow faster. The Embarras River joins the Wabash River about 6 miles (10 km) southwest of Vincennes, Indiana.
Along its path, the Embarras River passes by several towns. These include Villa Grove, Camargo, Charleston, Greenup, Newton, Ste. Marie, and Lawrenceville.
Smaller Rivers Joining In
A tributary is a stream or river that flows into a larger stream or river. The Embarras River has several important tributaries.
- In its upper part in Champaign County, the river collects the East Branch Embarras River. This branch starts in Vermilion County. It flows about 20.3 miles (32.7 km) west, past the town of Broadlands.
- In Coles County, the Embarras collects the Little Embarras River. This river starts in Edgar County. It flows about 19.6 miles (31.5 km) southwest.
- In Jasper County, the Embarras collects the North Fork Embarras River. This river is about 64.0 miles (103.0 km) long. It starts in Edgar County and flows south through Clark and Crawford Counties.
Different Names for the River
Sometimes, rivers can have more than one name. The United States Board on Geographic Names decided that "Embarras River" would be the official name in 1964. However, it has also been known by other names. These include "Ambraw River" and "Embarrass River."
River Life: Ecology
The Embarras River is home to special fish. It has the only known population of harlequin darters (Etheostoma histrio) in Illinois. Darters are small, colorful fish that live on the bottom of rivers and streams.
A Look Back: History
In the 1700s, the Embarras River was an important route. It was part of a trail connecting Cahokia to Vincennes. This river route was used by George Rogers Clark and his forces. They traveled along it during the Illinois campaign, an important military action during the American Revolutionary War.
