20 Major Facts About The Mississippi River: The Mississippi River is the 2nd largest river in North America. It originates at Lake Itaska in Minnesota and empties into the Gulf of Mexico. ‘Old Man River’ and ‘Father of Waters’ are the nickname of the Mississippi River. Here are the list of 20 major facts about the Mississippi River.
20 Major Facts About The Mississippi River
1. The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America. The length of this river is approximately 2,340 miles (3,766 kms).
2. The Mississippi River originates at Lake Itaska in Minnesota. It flows southward to the Gulf of Mexico. This river empties into the Gulf of Mexico.
3. The name of Mississippi River comes from the Ojibwe word ‘Misi Ziibi’. ‘Misi Ziibi’ means ‘Great River’.
4. The nickname of Mississippi River is ‘Old Man River’ and ‘Father of Waters’.
5. The drainage basin of Mississippi River is the fourth largest in the world. It covers about 1.2 million square miles and reaches into 32 US states and 2 Canadian provinces.
6. The Missouri River, Ohio River, Arkansas River, and The Red River are some of the major tributaries of The Mississippi River.
7. The Mississippi River has played a crucial role in American history. It served as a major transportation route for explorers, settlers, and traders during the westward expansion.
8. The Mississippi River is the fourteenth largest river in the world by volume.
9. Minneapolis, St. Louis, Memphis, New Orleans, etc. are some of the major cities that are situated along the Mississippi River.
10. The Mississippi River basin is home to over 360 species of fish, 326 species of birds, 145 species of amphibians, and 50 species of mammals.
11. The Great River Road is a National Scenic Byway that follows the course of the Mississippi River through 10 states of U.S. It offers scenic views and access to historic sites.
12. The deepest part of the Mississippi River is 200 feet deep, that is located near Algiers Point in New Orleans.
13. The Mississippi River is closely associated with Mark Twain’s literary works ‘The Adventures of Tom Sawyer’ and ‘Adventures of Huckleberry Finn’.
14. There are 7 National Park Service sites along the Mississippi River are: Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, Effigy Mounds National Monument, Gateway Arch National Park, Vicksburg National Military Park, Natchez National Historical Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park, and Jean Lafitte National Historic Park and Preserve.
15. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis and The Crescent City Connection in New Orleans are the example of bridges that are situated over the Mississippi River. It connects states and cities.
16. National Great Rivers Museum is located in Alton, Illinois. This museum is dedicated to the ecology, history, and commerce of the Mississippi River.
17. The Rocky Mountains in the west makes up the vast watershed of the Mississippi River.
18. The Appalachian Mountains in the east makes up the vast watershed of the Mississippi River.
19. The Mississippi River offers opportunities for various recreational activities such as boating, fishing, canoeing, and wildlife viewing.
20. The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is about 100 miles longer.
You can read more about the Mississippi River from here. Here we provide a link of Wikipedia page about the Mississippi River. [Read More]
