Skillet Fork facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Skillet Fork |
|
|---|---|
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Marion County southwest of Farina, Illinois 38°48′11″N 88°43′06″W / 38.803102°N 88.7183859°W |
| River mouth | Confluence with the Little Wabash River northeast of Carmi, Illinois 361 ft (110 m) 38°07′53″N 88°07′32″W / 38.1314354°N 88.1255923°W |
| Length | 98 mi (158 km) |
| Basin features | |
| Progression | Skillet Fork → Little Wabash → Wabash → Ohio → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| GNIS ID | 418570 |
The Skillet Fork is a river in southern Illinois, a state in the United States. It is about 98 mi (158 km) long. This river is an important part of the local water system.
Contents
What is the Skillet Fork River?
The Skillet Fork is a tributary, which means it's a smaller river that flows into a larger one. It joins the Little Wabash River. From there, its water travels through even bigger rivers.
A Journey to the Ocean
The water from the Skillet Fork goes on a long journey. First, it flows into the Little Wabash River. Then, it joins the Wabash River, which then flows into the Ohio River. Finally, the Ohio River empties into the mighty Mississippi River. The Mississippi River then carries all this water all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. This whole system of connected rivers is called a watershed.
Where the River Begins and Ends
The Skillet Fork starts in the northeastern part of Marion County. It then flows generally southeast. As it travels, it passes through several other counties in Illinois. These include Clay, Wayne, Hamilton, and White counties.
The river meets the Little Wabash River about 5 miles (8 km) upstream from a town called Carmi.
How Humans Have Changed the River
In some parts of its lower course, the Skillet Fork has been changed by people. These changes are sometimes called "channelization." This means that parts of the river have been made straighter and deeper. This is often done to help with things like flood control or to make it easier for boats to travel.
