Southern Illinois (also known as "
Little Egypt" or "
Egypt") is the southern third of the state of
Illinois. With the
area code 618, the southern part of Illinois is geographically, culturally, and economically distinct from the rest of the state. It is considered a part of
downstate Illinois. The region is bordered on three of four sides by the most voluminous rivers in the United States: the
Wabash and
Ohio rivers to the east and south, and the
Mississippi River and its connecting
Missouri River to the west.