The Story Behind Chicago's Green River Is Absolutely Wild! 🏟😱

Every March, the Chicago River turns green?! How on earth do they pull that off? ❓ As one of the world's iconic St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, Chicago dyes its river emerald green each year, drawing tourists from across the globe to snap that perfect Instagram shot. But did you know this tradition actually started by accident? 💥 💚 How Does the Chicago River Turn Green? 💚 Let’s rewind to 1962. The Chicago Plumbers Union was inspecting illegal sewage discharges and used a green dye to trace pollution sources. To their surprise, the dye turned the river a stunning jade green! 🌉💚 At the time, it was St. Patrick’s Day—a major holiday in Chicago, given its large Irish immigrant population. Celebrating the occasion, they had a lightbulb moment: why not dye the entire river green and make it an annual tradition? 🎉🍀 What’s the Secret Sauce? 🧪 Many wonder: Is this massive dye job harmful to the environment? Initially, they used fluorescein, but switched to plant-based, biodegradable dyes later for eco-friendliness. No harm done to Mother Nature! 🌱💧 The process takes about 5 hours. Crew members sail along the river in boats, sprinkling dye that spreads with the current, gradually transforming the water into the iconic Irish green! 🛶🌊 Hidden Gems for Watching the Green River 🆕 ✅ Best Viewing Spots: • Along the Chicago River (Michigan Avenue Bridge & Wacker Drive) 🌉 • Randolph Street Viaduct 🛣 ✅ Best Photo Op Times: • Dye dumping starts at 10:00 AM on Saturday, March 15th. Peak greenness hits ~1 hour later. ⏰ • The river looks its most vibrant around 11:30 AM—perfect for photos! 📸 Have you witnessed Chicago’s green river in person? Is this on your bucket list this year? Share your thoughts in the comments! 👇 #Chicago #GreenRiver #StPatricksDay 🍀🌉