Chicago is the third largest city in United States and has its third largest metropolitan area.

Chicago lies adjacent to Lake Michigan in the state of Illinois, a portage between the Great Lakes and the Mississippi River watershed making it a major transportation hub, the business, financial and even cultural capital of the American Midwest.

‘Chicago’ is the French interpretation of ‘Shikaakwa’, which means ‘wild leek’.

Chicago has over 40 museums, more than 150 theaters and over 6,000 restaurants and over 200 annual parades.

A city full of firsts Chicago was the birthplace of roller skates, steel frame skyscraper, elevated railway, cracker jacks, zipper, window envelope, hostess Twinkie, pinball game and spray paint.

The Merchandise Mart with 90 acres of floor space in Chicago is the largest building in America (excluding Pentagon).

The only river in the world whose water flows backwards is the Chicago River.

Chicago is home to three of the world’s tallest buildings, Sears Tower, Amoco Building and John Hancock.

Other names for Chicago are the Windy City and the Candy Capital of the World.

Harold Washington Library Center the world’s largest public library with over 2 million books is in Chicago.

Its economic and cultural influence throughout the world has earned Chicago the status of an Alpha City.

The largest indoor marine mammal pavilion in the world ‘Oceanarium’ is in Chicago.

The Art Institute of Chicago has the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in the world, apart from the Louvre (Paris).

Budget, Alamo, Thrifty, Enterprise, and Hertz are among the best car hire agencies offering their services in Chicago.

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