Vermilion River (Illinois River tributary)
| Vermilion River | |
|---|---|
| Basin | |
| Main source |
Confluence of the North Fork and South Fork, Avoca Township, Livingston County, Illinois 40°49′11″N 88°30′29″W / 40.8197559°N 88.5081124°W |
| River mouth |
Confluence with the Illinois River, Oglesby, Illinois 449 ft (137 m) 41°19′10″N 89°04′04″W / 41.319479°N 89.0678602°WCoordinates: 41°19′10″N 89°04′04″W / 41.319479°N 89.0678602°W |
| Progression | Vermilion River → Illinois → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 75 mi (121 km) |
| Features | |
| GNIS ID | 424127 |
The Vermilion River is a 74.8-mile-long (120.4 km)tributary of the Illinois River in the state of Illinois, United States. The river flows north, in contrast to a second Vermilion River in Illinois, which flows south to the Wabash River. The Illinois and Wabash rivers each have a tributary named the Little Vermilion River as well.
The north-flowing Vermilion River and the south-flowing Middle Fork Vermilion River run on what is close to a straight line between Oglesby and Danville. In presettlement times, the two rivers drained an upland marsh near Roberts. It is possible that early settlers regarded these as a single river that flowed in two directions. It is also possible that, in early settlement times, these rivers formed a canoe route between the Illinois River and Wabash River, with a portage through the marshes near Roberts. This may explain why the two rivers have the same name.
The north-flowing Vermilion flows in a northerly direction from its origin in Livingston and Ford counties in north central Illinois, eventually emptying into the Illinois River, near Oglesby. Perhaps it is best known for its stretch of whitewater between Lowell and Oglesby, Illinois, which is one of few found in Illinois.
Access to a stretch of river around a dam owned by Buzzi Unicem was temporarily barred in 2009 after two drowning deaths that occurred on June 23 and 26, respectively, as well as numerous other boating accidents. The river access was reopened in 2010.
In 2012, a mother and son, Mary Lou (Knudson) Bevers and Jake Abry canoed the entire river. They put in just before the fork at a bridge near Piper City and ended in the Illinois River and calculated the river to be 93 miles in length. They portaged 5 times including 4 dams: Mill Street Dam and Ladd Street Dam in Pontiac, Streator Dam, and the Dam at the cement company near Oglesby. The 5th portage was around the Wildcat Rapids just before the last dam and is believed to be the only white water in Illinois. The river begins in a ditch with meadow banks, progresses from small to large trees on the banks, to rock cliffs north of Streator. Jake Abry never left the river as over the course of the 5 consecutive day trip, he spent the first and second nights in his mother's and grandmother's homes (respectively) on the river, camped at the Vermilion River Boat Club the 3rd night and camped at the Vermilion Rafting Company at the Lowell Bridge the 4th night. The Daily Leader, local Pontiac newspaper, wrote an article on the duo's accomplishment and can be found here: http://www.pontiacdailyleader.com/article/20120619/NEWS/306199933
...
Wikipedia