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Despite being named after the Algonquian word for skunk, Chicago is one of America’s most thriving and spectacular cities. Spanning 22 miles along the southwest shore of Lake Michigan, the city itself holds nearly 2.9 million people and sits in the center of a metropolitan area containing more than 8 million.
Looking at the image, some of Chicago’s famous sites can be made out. The long black line coming into the center of the city from the southwest is the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal. In the center of the city, just right of where the canal banks north to become the Chicago River, sits a small pier on Lake Michigan, perpendicular to the city, known as Meigs Field. Just to the left of the pier is Soldier Field. Scanning north of Meigs Field, another pier juts out onto the lake. This is Navy Pier. Though it cannot be made out in the image, the Water Tower District and the John Hancock Building sit between Navy Pier and the Chicago River. South of this area is downtown Chicago and the Sears Tower.
This simulated-color scene was acquired by the Landsat 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper plus (ETM+) on September 14, 2001.
  

”The purpose of NASA's Earth Observatory is to provide a freely-accessible publication on the Internet where the public can obtain new satellite imagery and scientific information about our home planet. The focus is on Earth's climate and environmental change. In particular, we hope our site is useful to public media and educators. Any and all materials published on the Earth Observatory are freely available for re-publication or re-use, except where copyright is indicated. We ask that NASA's Earth Observatory be given credit for its original materials.”
Leaning Tower Of Niles
This is a photograph of Notre Dame High School for Boys, a private secondary school in Niles, Illinois.
Photo by NASA/USGS Landsat 7
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North AmericaUnited StatesIllinois

Niles

Illinois, United States · North America

About Niles

Niles works well as a base: 10 minutes from Harwood Heights, 21km from Route 66 - Chicago Start.

Niles is in Illinois, United States, with about 30,000 people. You drive on the right here. The nearest town is Harwood Heights, about 6 km away.

Where to Stay in Niles

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is there to see near Niles?

Within an hour or so of Niles: Willis Tower (Sears Tower) (21 km), Route 66 - Chicago Start (21 km), Art Institute of Chicago (21 km), Lou Mitchell's (21 km).

Are there any good drives near Niles?

The nearest famous roads are Route 66 - Chicago Start.

Where is Niles?

Niles is in Illinois, United States, about 6 km from Harwood Heights.

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Quick Information

Population
29,876
Continent
North America
Country
United States
Region
Illinois
Timezone
America/Chicago
Coordinates
42.0189, -87.8028

Emergency & Services

Essential numbers in United States

Police
911
Ambulance
911
Fire
911
Driving side
right

AAA roadside assistance: 1-800-222-4357. Right turn on red is legal in most states unless signed otherwise.

Full driving guide for United States

Tags

North AmericaUnited StatesIllinoisTown

Worth the detour from Niles

6 notable places within an hour's drive.

landmark

Willis Tower (Sears Tower)

Iconic 110-storey Chicago skyscraper with a glass-floored Skydeck, once the tallest building in the world.

21 km · about 25 min drive

66 US ROUTE

historic highway

Route 66 - Chicago Start

The 'Begin Route 66' sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue marks the start of the 2,448-mile Mother Road to Santa Monica: the classic photo stop before heading west.

21 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Art Institute of Chicago

One of the oldest and largest art museums in the US, renowned for its Impressionist collection and Grant Wood's American Gothic.

21 km · about 25 min drive

cafe

Lou Mitchell's

Serving double-yolk eggs and free Milk Duds since 1923, this Chicago diner beside the start of Route 66 is the traditional first breakfast of the Mother Road journey.

21 km · about 25 min drive

museum

Field Museum of Natural History

Home to Sue, the largest and most complete T. rex ever found, along with extensive anthropological and geological collections.

23 km · about 25 min drive

landmark

Shedd Aquarium

Iconic Chicago aquarium on the Lake Michigan waterfront housing over 32,000 animals from around the world.

23 km · about 25 min drive

Driving roads near Niles

  • 21 kmRoute 66 - Chicago StartThe 'Begin Route 66' sign on Adams Street at Michigan Avenue marks the start of the 2,448-mile Mother Road to Santa Monica: the classic photo stop before heading west.

Nearby Destinations

Other places to explore near Niles.

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Lincolnwood

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Norridge

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Des Plaines

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Rosemont

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7 km awayPop. 4,206

Portage Park

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7 km awayPop. 64,841

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Data sources:GeoNames (CC BY 4.0)•Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)•Mapbox•Photography: George Lawrence