What is the American Bottom? Put simply, it's a narrow floodplain of the Mississippi River in Illinois. It's bordered on the west by the river, and on the east by a long chain of bluffs. It stretches north to south from Alton to Kaskaskia.
However, it's more than just a floodplain, the American Bottom is rich in history. From the glacial disposition that helped shape its landscape, to the great Native American civilizations that built Cahokia Mounds.
The area was once part of the "French Crescent", as they built a string of towns and forts along the Mississippi River, when the bottoms were considered the breadbasket of French Louisiana. After the Revolutionary War, the term "American Bottom" eventually became what people would call this beautiful region. I encourage you to check out the links provided and read about the area you'll be running through.