Cairo: A Historic City at the Crossroads of the Midwest

Location and Geography

Cairo, pronounced CARE-ro, is a city in Illinois situated at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers. This unique location has played a significant role in the city's history and development.

The Mississippi-Ohio Confluence

The confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers creates a geographical feature known as the Cairo Point. This point is where the two rivers merge to form a single channel that continues its journey to the Gulf of Mexico. The confluence has made Cairo a natural crossroads for transportation and commerce.