A timelapse video has been released showing Chicago River being turned green in time for St Patrick’s Day.
The system of rivers and canals running through the US city is dyed green annually and usually lasts around five hours once it has been turned fully green.
The tradition actually arose by accident when plumbers used fluorescein dye to trace sources of illegal pollution discharges. The dyeing of the river is still sponsored by the local plumbers union.
Fluorescein dye was banned by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) after it was found to be harmful to the river, and the parade committee has since switched to a mix involving forty pounds of powdered vegetable dye.
In 2009 First Lady Michelle Obama, a Chicago native, requested that the White House fountains be dyed green to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day.
Timelapse video shows the Chicago River being turned green with 45 lbs of dye in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. ? pic.twitter.com/Xv2mEh1bLN
— ✈Monica-مونيكا✈️ (@vargasmoni) March 16, 2017
Since you are here
Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.
Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.
Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.
If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.
To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.
The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.
The shop can be found here.
You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .
