The Great Lakes drainage basin constitutes a huge natural resource region of major significance for Chicago's strategic position and historic growth. Rich with minerals, timber, and farmland, the region has provided an easy water highway for centuries, serving as the corridor for American westward movement and for subsequent industrialization. Situated at the southeastern margin of the region, with a fine harbor and easy access to rivers of the great Mississippi River basin, Chicago is the world's largest metropolis to sit astride a continental divide.

Source: Newberry Library