Located at the confluence of three great American rivers - the Mississippi, the Illinois and the Missouri - the River Bend region is a picturesque region of stunning bluffs, historic sites, quaint villages, rolling countryside, abundant wildlife, riverine beauty and friendly people. The River Bend region includes the cities and towns "all around Alton" in Northern Madison, Jersey and Calhoun counties, as well as the 33-mile Meeting of the Great Rivers National Scenic Byway. Here the Mississippi meanders from west to east. Here you find those who watch the aura of red, orange and yellow as the evening sun slips into the flowing waters. Whether sailing, taking a casual drive, sitting dockside at one of the many shoreline pubs or bicycling the Great River Road, the rivers' beauty satisfies both the eye and the heart.