The Mississippi River is 2,340 miles long and is the second longest river in the United States. The river's source is Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and its mouth is in the Gulf of Mexico. The longest tributary of the Mississippi river is the Missouri River, with the Arkansas River being the second longest.GNIS: Mississippi River Facts
Geography
Draining 41 percent of the 48 contiguous states, "the Mississippi River has the third largest drainage basin in the world."US Army Corps Engineers: Mississippi River Water from as far east as New York and as far west as Montana contributes to the flow in the lower parts of the river. The depth of the Mississippi River ranges from three feet to 200 feet at Algiers Point in New Orleans.
History
Hernando De Soto, a Spanish explorer, is credited with discovering the Mississippi River in 1541.Thinkquest: Mississippi River In 1803, the United States acquired the Mississippi river through the Louisiana Purchase.Gatewayno: Louisiana Purchase The river became a trade outlet for middle America in the 19th century. The first steamboat sailed down the Mississippi River in 1811.University of Virginia: Mississippi River Steamboats
References
Fast Facts
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Country
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Mississippi name
from Ojibwe word misi-ziibi (Great River) or gichi-ziibi (Big River)Mississippi River: Mississippi River
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Source
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Length
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Elevation
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Tributaries
Ohio River, Illinois River, Missouri River and Arkansas River
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Fact:
Mississippi River is one of the great commercial waterways of the world
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Fact:
There are 29 locks and dams on the upper MississippiCGEE: Mississippi River
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Fact:
William Faulkner used the Mississippi River and Delta throughout his novels
