<P> The three white background areas of the flag represent , from top to bottom , the North , West and South sides of the city . The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River . The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the river and the `` Great Canal '' , over the Chicago Portage . The lighter blue on the flag is variously called sky blue or pale blue ; in a 1917 article of a speech by Rice , it was called `` the color of water '' . </P>
<P> The three white background areas of the flag represent , from top to bottom , the North , West and South sides of the city . The top blue stripe represents Lake Michigan and the North Branch of the Chicago River . The bottom blue stripe represents the South Branch of the river and the `` Great Canal '' , over the Chicago Portage . The lighter blue on the flag is variously called sky blue or pale blue ; in a 1917 article of a speech by Rice , it was called `` the color of water '' . </P>
what do the white stripes on the chicago flag stand for
what do the white stripes on the chicago flag stand for
from top to bottom , the North , West and South sides of the city
from top to bottom , the North , West and South sides of the city