Starved Rock State Park is an Illinois state park located in Utica, Illinois, in rural La Salle County, Illinois, about 75 miles (120 km) west-southwest of downtown Chicago. The park is over 2500 acres (10 km²)in size and includes 13 miles (21 km) of hiking trails, numerous waterfalls (icefalls in winter) and other landforms. Starved Rock itself is a large eroded boulder overlooking the Illinois River. French explorers built a fort called Fort St. Louis atop the rock in 1682 but had abandoned it by the early 1700s. The rock derives its name from a story that a band of Illiniwek was trapped on the rock by a band of Potawatomi trying to avenge the death of the Ottawa Chief Pontiac. The Illiniwek starved on the rock. Camping, boating and fishing are popular activities in the park. On the property there is also a 1930s lodge built of full timbers by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Starved Rock Lodge and Conference Center. Small waterfall in Wildcat Canyon, in Starved Rock State Park by Utica, Illinois. ... State nickname: The Prairie State Other U.S. States Capital Springfield Largest city Chicago Governor Rod Blagojevich Official languages English Area 149,998 km² (25th)  - Land 143,968 km²  - Water 6,030 km² (4. ... State park is a term used in the United States and in Mexico for an area of land preserved on account of its natural beauty, historic interest, or other reason, and under the administration of the government of a U.S. state or one of the states of Mexico. ... Utica, founded in 1852, is located in La Salle County, Illinois, between La Salle and Ottawa, on the Illinois River. ... La Salle County is a county located in the state of Illinois. ... This article is about the river in the U.S. state of Illinois. ... The French Republic or France (French: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents. ... Events March 11 – Chelsea hospital for soldiers is founded in England May 6 - Louis XIV of France moves his court to Versailles. ... The Illiniwek (also known as the Illini, Illinois, Illinois Confederacy, etc) were a group of several Native American tribes in the upper Mississippi River valley of North America. ... The Potawatomi (also spelled Pottawatomie or Pottawatomi) are an Aboriginal American people of the upper Mississippi River region. ... The Ottawa (also Odawa or Odaawa) are a Native American people. ... No authentic images of Pontiac are known to exist. ... Camping is an outdoor recreational activity involving the spending of one or more nights in a tent, primitive structure, a travel trailer or recreational vehicle at a campsite with the purpose of getting away from civilization and enjoying nature. ... Boating is the activity of travelling by boat. ... Fishing from a Pier Fishing is both the recreation and sport of catching fish (for food or as a trophy), and the commercial fishing industry of catching or harvesting seafood (either fish or other aquatic life-forms, such as shellfish). ... Events and trends Technology Jet engine invented Science Nuclear fission discovered by Otto Hahn, Lise Meitner and Fritz Strassmann Pluto, the ninth planet from the Sun, is discovered by Clyde Tombaugh British biologist Arthur Tansley coins term ecosystem War, peace and politics Socialists proclaim The death of Capitalism Rise to... Civilian Conservation Corps workers restoring the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal The Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) was created in President Franklin Delano Roosevelts first month in office (on March 31, 1933). ...

External link

• Starved Rock State Park (http://dnr.state.il.us/lands/landmgt/parks/i&m/east/starve/park.htm)