American Bottom

The American Bottom is a large floodplain of the Mississippi River located in southern Illinois, stretching around 130 miles from east of St. Louis to its confluence with the Mississippi. Historically, it provided rich alluvial soil ideal for agriculture and was home to the Mississippian culture, including the Cahokia Mound Center, a significant pre-Columbian city. Today, it remains a vital agricultural region and a area of archaeological interest due to its ancient Native American sites. Its geography and history reflect a blend of natural richness and human development over centuries.