Chicago, Illinois, USA • 360° Aerial Panorama
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One of the most famous cities in the World - Chicago - got its name from the Indian word «shikaakwa» which means «Wild Lily». The city resembles the beautiful flower, though its actual view had been forming during last century.
Chicago has its own soul and individuality. In the city visitors can admire by three eras of world architecture. What is very unusual for such a young country like the U.S. Special "thanks" for that are to the famous fire in 1871. At that time, the fire almost wiped Chicago off the map.
It's impossible to determine the cause of the fire by this time. There are varuous leads: from a cow that capsized a kerosene lamp to a comet. Anyway, the fire was raging the whole three October days. Had devastated the southwest, the fire "overstepped" the southern arm of the Chicago River and continued destroing the entire 38-year history of the city.
But after that Chicago was built practically from the zero and that made possible to implement the boldest architectural experiments of that time. As we know, the first skyscrapers in the USA appeared in this city: the price for buying !!!! there was very expensive and the city had no other choice than to grow up.
Nowadays, 10 out of 50 highest buildings in the World are in Chicago. And from 10 highest buildings in the USA 5 are located in Chicago. Among them is the 442-meter Willis (Sears) Tower, the highest building of Northern America. Truly speaking, this record may be broken soon. The next skyscraper is being built here - the 609-meter Chicago Spire. The construction works were delayed due to the financial crisis, but if they are finally finished, there will be the second highest building in the World in Chicago.
Along with this, you shouldn't suppose that Chicago is just a city of austere skyscrapers with the tiny people-bugs. The main part of it consists of 2-3 storeyed houses including those of a completely classic style with their propylaea, porticos and arcades. There are beaches and parks in Chicago including famous Grant Park and Millennium Park. The city sculptures are also represented in all the genres of art: from classics to high-tech.
And except of achievements in the sphere of town building Chicago has another thing to be proud of. Walt Disney, Michel Obama, Hillary Clinton, Ekaterina Yushenko, Ernest Hemmingway, Anastasia and many others are in the number of its famous natives. Famous classic of American literature Theodor Dreiser called Chicago "Florence of Western States" and "Literary capital of America" - now Chicago is considered to be a theatrical capital of the country.
If you walk into the seafront or have a look at the city from a bird's eye view, it seems that Chicago is on a sea shore: till the horizon, anywhere one might look at, there is a water surface. However, it is not a sea, Michigan - which called a "Big Lake" in the language of the Indians - is one of the Great American Lakes. Its length is 500 km, width is about 190 km and total area is 57 750 sq. km. It makes Michigan lake one of 5 biggest lakes in the World.
One more interesting fact about Chicago - there is the only river in the World which flows to the reverse side. It is named River Chicago. Its course was changed by 180 grades in 1900. The reason was an ordinary problem: in the end of XVIII century, when the city grew, the city poured out sewage into Michigan Lake that, in its turn, resulted the lack of pure water. The problem was solved only with cardinal river course changing along with the construction of sewage treatment channel flowing to the Illinois River.
Chicago can be much spoken about but there are no words that will tell about the charm and simultaneously greatness of this city. The city that conquered nature and didn't quarrel with it; city that said a new word (and not only one!) in architecture; the city of records and famous people - that worth a thousand words.
September 2010. Photographer is Mike Reifman.
Comments
5 from 5"chicago...i will com soon with DV viza...I Love CHicago & peoples"
kourosh sm, Iran
5 from 5"One of the most beautiful cities i've seen. I've been in Chicago 1997. I love Sheed Aquarium, History Museum and Michigan Lake, I'll neer forget. Amazing ! Miss Chicago !"
Luciana Jacob, Brazil
"test"
pauls kim, Korea
5 from 5"My kind of town. Awsome job."
Anna B, USA
5 from 5"very gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood"
ibrahim mohamadi, Iran
"jest przepiekny .Moglabym tak ogladac godzinami,byleby tylko nieznizac lotu."
danjol42843 barbaruna, Greece
5 from 5"exciting view from Chicago!...so pretty!...what about Washington D.C??? is it possible to watch it in the near future???... as always...in one word JUST WONDERFUL!!!! CONGRATULATIONS!!!!"
Marta Tobar, Chile
4 from 5"Wish to see Timber Pass Mundelein."
R N KAPIL, India
5 from 5"I have traveled to many of the wonderful cities listed, but there's no place like home---Chicago. Thanks!"
Sondra Chesler, USA
5 from 5"Wow, great job !! I had the chance to stay many times to Chicago the last four years, and fell in love with the city. Forever in my heart !"
Jerome Lienard, France
2 from 5"My wife and I visited Chicago 4 years ago. We loved the city, the people and the music. We will be back someday to hear those blues again at Legends Bar."
Paul Bosas, Australia
5 from 5"AN EXCELLENT CREATION. VERY VERY FINE, HELPFUL AND VERY INTERESTING AND INFORMATIVE..CONGRATS TO CREATORS !"
PANDURANGASWAMY V V, India
"Chicago....Well, just as Frank Sinatra says in the song....! Chicago is my kind of Town...! Gtreat Place.. At lot to do...Good Restaurants..And above all Great People of Chicago....!"
Joe Surowiecki, USA
5 from 5"Chicago is the best, most beautiful, fun city in the world. I have traveled to many big cities of this world and non can compete with my home town. I do not live there anymore but do visit often and get my fix on the great city of Chicago!"
Joan Cook, Mexico
2 from 5"lindo"
nivaldo duarte de oliveira, Brazil
5 from 5"Its nickname "Windy City" got its name from the politicians, not the wind. Although it can be quite windy especially on the Michigan Ave. bridge. Millenium Park and the river walk along the Chicago river are two of my favorite places."
Josette Carpenter, USA
"I love this city!!always gonna be in my heart!i love u CHICAGO!!"
chinbat chinbold, Mongolia
5 from 5"Wonderful Chicago panoramas. I needed to explore this city because of my work and this site with its magnificent air panoramas is the best I could find. It helps much better than just street view. Many thanks."
Igor Semenov, Russian Federation
5 from 5"Oh I'm not that rich to think about visiting wonderful Chicago! so all of you guys when looking at those beautiful flowers and nice places, don't forget me please! Thank God for giving us the great opportunity to live in this beautiful and majestic world. with best wishes for you all, Darush."
Darush Rad, Iran
5 from 5pegah alavi, Iran
4 from 5"Nice job! Only two comments: Chicago gets its name for the very smelly wild green onions that used to grow all over. I was always told that its name means 'stinking onion.' Secondly, to the old sour pusses who can't stand their old feelings about the city: A lot has changed on the last 20 years, and it truly has become a beautiful, cosmopolitan city."
Rob Johan, USA
5 from 5"The beautiful flowers everywhere. The beautiful hotels especially the Drake where we stayed. The troly took us around the city. The spectacular view of the city and Lake from the top of the Signature restaurant.Walking around the pier was great and great food. Also eating at the Weber restaurant. Gret food. Will go back some day."
Christina Carson, USA
5 from 5"Was born and raised on the west side of Chgo., left the city when I joined the USN during WW 2 and never returned. I miss most of my old friends from the St. Mel's parish area. The people in general were quite special, gifted and loving. What else is there in life?"
Jim Henry, USA
"Wow......that was the first thing that came to my mind when I saw this amazing city for the first time. That feeling still remains in me every time I see her. What makes this city the best is the people, the food, the culture and the skyscrapers. It is the best city that I had lived in. The smell of the city and the wind gushing through its roads would still stay in my mind for ever."
Balaji Sudarsan, India
5 from 5"i love Chiggo. Began writing to my penpal sandie in 1957. Have visited her 3 times and I still find somewhere new to see. I love the music and the people. Have met some of the great musicians and artists, met up with them in England. Architecture is my passion. Chicago has it all. Ist time I saw the city, it was a dream come true. i will be back"
susan dodds, United Kingdom
5 from 5"CHICAGO, TO MANY PEOPLE, HOWEVER THE BUILDINGS AND THE CHICAGO CUBS. I LIVE 200 MILES SOUTH. I OWN 14,500 ACREAS. IT'S MADE ME ON THE AVERAGE 2 MILLON A YEAR IN MY POCKET PROFIT. 80 MIL.IN MY POCKET SELLING OUT AND MOVING HI. TRAVEL MYSELF FOR EVER. THATS THE REASON I LIKE ILLINOIS AND THE CUBS"
MICHAEL SHEEHAN, Armenia
5 from 5"Even our famous cities in Europe cannot compare with the architecture of The Windy City. Having relatives in Downers Grove, IL, my family and I fell in love with Chicago and spent 4 vacations there."
Roland Kern, Austria
5 from 5"Truly amazing."
sanath akmeemana, Sri Lanka
"Great"
Bill Cary, USA
5 from 5"Amo Chicago desde la primera vez que la visite y desde entonces he estado 10 veces a traves de 20 aсos, encontrй lo que me encanta mбs en la vida, arte, buena comida, jazz, blues, arquitectura, gente amable, etc. no te la acabas nunca!!!!"
SUSANA MORALES, Mexico
3 from 5"Nice City . Weather is lousy (too hot, too cold, too wet, etc)"
Ed Gould, USA
4 from 5"Superb photography, taken at the right time of day ( afternoon, with the sun coming from the West.) I lived and worked in Chicago, ( at the Drake Hotel) ) in the 60s, for 6 years. As much as I liked it then, the winters were just too much to bear. I now live in the most fabulous city in the US ... the beautiful City of Saint Francis of Assisi. There's NO comparison."
Otto Lissfeld, USA
1 from 5"It didn't let me do any thing!"
Lavender Brown, American Samoa
3 from 5"Good"
Jayakumar Venkat, India
"Moved from Chicago 44 years ago and I don't miss it a bit. Stinkin dirty city, back stabbin, people. I went back 3 times why I don't know."
Dick Haase, USA
5 from 5"Was born in Evanston, Illinois 85 yrs. ago and moved to Georgia in 2000 because my husband was sick. He passed away 4 months after I moved. There is no city in the world like Chicago now nor ever will be. This city has every thing you could ever see or wish for. Riding along the lake front is like Heaven. The diversity is great."
Minnie Choice, USA
5 from 5"We visited this wonderful city in May, this has certainly rekindled memories of our stay and whetted our appetite for a return."
Mervyn Phipps, United Kingdom
4 from 5"Am 82 and other than the Navy for 4 have lived in the area. When I went overseas and admiitted being a Chicagon I was tagged a gangster by folks. The wife and I travelled this country from coast to coast and were alwaya glad to get back home!"
John Holly, USA
5 from 5"Wow, wow, & WOW!!!! Yes, this is Chicago & I just love it! My daughter did her Masters at the University of Chicago in 2004/2005. She was offered a job by the university & had been working there until recently she was offered a more challenging job in a corporate company. I travel to Chicago to visit her every year from the time she graduated. Whenever I step down from the plane, I just feel so excited to be back in this beautiful city, more excited because I am able to visit my daughter. Normally I would stay with her for about 3 weeks. When she goes to work, I would spend my time exploring the Windy City. Am always overwhelmed with the unique and iconic architectural tall buildings along the Magnificent Mile. Just love everything in Chicago - the sight, the food, the people & of course, the shopping! This year, my husband & I will be bringing along 2 friends to the Windy City in September for the first time. Yeah, Chicago, here we come!"
Jackie Chan, Malaysia
5 from 5"I loved this city and everything in it."
Monika Kerschl, Canada
5 from 5"I had been to Chicago, Illinois 15 years back. I stayed with my sister and her family at skokie. What I still remember is: Lake Michigan,fantastic O'Hare International Airport and friendly people with their great culture. It is a fantastic city! Avinash Joshi Pune, Maharashtra, India."
Avinash Joshi, India
5 from 5"Great city and nice people. Was in Chicago in 2000 (have relatives there), when driving the old Route66, starting in Chicago and finished it in LA (Santa Monica). Ed"
Ed Van Ham, Netherlands
4 from 5"Though adverse effect to windy-city is predominant, there are thousands of Gujarati who makes their dream of life come true !"
vikesh vimawala, India
5 from 5"hai guys u did such a great job... i am school principal and also very fond of photography.... i saw all your panoramic photos it is wonderful work u did for us. we may see all the best images of d world at home. thanks 2 u guys... plz keep continue.."
katarmal bharat, India
"Me facino vivir en esta gran ciudad. El destino me llevo a texas y extraсo sobre manera esta divina ciudad. Argelia de Saltillo Coahuila"
Argelia Vera, Mexico
5 from 5"I went to Chicago for my honeymoon we like the city and the people so much that decided to stay, move to Houston after 35 wonderful years in the Windy City, I miss Chicago"
Argelia Vera, Mexico
5 from 5"lOVED THE PHOTOGRAPhY. i USED TO LIVE IN THE I used to live in the Gold Coast area near the Oak St. Beach. Jazz was my thing then and even tho I went to school and worked at Carson,Pirie,&Scott I was in and out of most of the jazz joints. Brings back wonderful memories. Thanks a bunch. The tallest building then was the Merchandise Mart. Now the skyline is replete with skyscrapers. Time for me to go back. Catherine ."
catherine aNTROBUS dELSORO, USA
5 from 5"I really enjoyed your views of Chicago. It is truly a wonderful city. I live now in St Louis, a close neighbor to the "Windy City""
Ron Fennell, USA
"I was born near Chicago. Maybe 1 1/2 hours away."
Angel Beats, USA
5 from 5"Chicago was the first city I visited in the USA and it is beautiful. The architecture is just amazing and the peopl friendly and helpful. I will be back again."
Jo le Cheminant, Australia
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