Mississippi River Info
In the heart of North America lies one of the world's greatest rivers, the magnificent Mississippi River. The Mississippi River is the largest and most important river in North America. Mississippi is an Algonquian word meaning "Big Water," while the Ojibwa Indians of the north referred to the river as "Messipi" or "Big River." The exploration and economic development of North America as we know it today is based largely on the central role that the Mississippi River has played.
The Mississippi River is the third largest river in the world, only behind the massive Nile and Amazon rivers respectively. With over 250 tributaries, the Mississippi drains more than 1,247,000 square miles, making it the largest drainage system in area in North America and the third largest in the world. The Mississippi River begins in Lake Itasca, MN, where it is 12 ft wide and 1.5 feet deep, and flows about 2,340 miles all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. Throughout the navigable course between St. Paul, MN and the Missouri River, the Mississippi ranges anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000 feet in width and 10 to 100 feet in depth. The accessibility of this great river links the heartland of North America to the rest of the world. The river is recognized world wide for its great beauty, recreation and everyday wildlife that call the majestic Mississippi River home.
Fun Facts of the Mississippi
The word Mississippi is the second most recognized word in the world, only behind the word "bible"!
The Mississippi River provides a source of water for more than 4 million people!