As we all know, time is like a river and only flows forwards. But did you know that in 1900, Chicago’s water sanitation problem was overcome by engineering the river to flow backwards, and it has done so ever since? Its original mouth is Lake Michigan, but thanks to the help of a canal, the city has had a supply of clean water ever since the end of the 19th century. Nowadays, they even dye it green on St. Patrick’s Day. The river has also become one of the city’s symbols: a three-branched, Y-shaped symbol can be found on many local buildings and structures in the area, and is meant to represent the three branches of the Chicago River. The North Branch flows mainly through residential neighbourhoods, while the Main Stem hails from Lake Michigan and the South Branch eventually reaches out to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is rich in its history and cultural complexity, making it a must-see for all travelers wishing to understand more about the city.