Mazon River
Physical characteristics
Source 
 • locationGreenfield Township, Grundy County, Illinois
 • coordinates41°11′02″N 88°15′13″W / 41.183921°N 88.2536703°W / 41.183921; -88.2536703 (Mazon River origin)
Mouth 
 • location
Confluence with the Illinois River, Morris, Illinois
 • coordinates
41°21′11″N 88°25′11″W / 41.3530°N 88.4198°W / 41.3530; -88.4198 (Mazon River mouth)
 • elevation
489 ft (149 m)
Length28 mi (45 km)
Discharge 
 • locationCoal City, Illinois
 • average373 cu/ft. per sec.[1]
Basin features
ProgressionMazon River → Illinois → Mississippi → Gulf of Mexico
GNIS ID413173

The Mazon River or Mazon Creek (/məˈzɒn/), is a tributary of the Illinois River in the United States. The confluence is near Morris, Illinois.[2]

The Mazon River is associated with the Mazon Creek fossils of the Francis Creek Shale, which are also exposed in strip mines and quarries near the River. This fossil bed includes well-preserved fossils from the Pennsylvanian period of the Paleozoic era and is a world-famous Lagerstätten site.

The Mazon River is approximately 28 miles (45 km) in length,[3] with the West Fork considered the main branch.

The river was named in honor of William Mason, a pioneer settler.[4]

Cities and counties

The following cities, towns and villages are within the Mazon watershed:

The following counties are at least partly drained by the Mazon River:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "USGS Current Conditions for USGS 05542000 MAZON RIVER NEAR COAL CITY, IL".
  2. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Mazon River
  3. ↑ U.S. Geological Survey. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. The National Map Archived 2012-03-29 at the Wayback Machine, accessed May 13, 2011
  4. ↑ Gannett, Henry (1905). The Origin of Certain Place Names in the United States. U.S. Government Printing Office. p. 202.



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