The Mighty Mississippi -- How Much River Do You Know?

The Mississippi River is the most important river inGovernor Nicholls Wharf. Drinking water for more than
North America. Most people understand why. Between18 million people are supplied by Ol' Miss and her
the water it supplies and its use as a watertributaries.
transportation thoroughfare from the north into the GulfThree hundred and twenty six species of North
and out to sea, it's no wonder people call it the "MightyAmerican birds -- that's 60 percent -- use the
Mississippi".Mississippi River Basin for their migratory air routes.
Most people know how ancient the river is. It hasThere are about 100 documented species of mussels,
forged its way through the continent willing other major145 species of reptiles and amphibians, and 50 species
rivers into its watery whispers, claiming their water asof mammals that call the Mississippi their homes.
its own. It has shifted, changed course, and carvedHannibal, Missouri is home to the infamous "Unsinkable"
new pathways around glaciers, through earthquakesMolly Brown and the outspoken author Samuel
and blockages, amidst flooding surges, and throughoutClemens, better known as Mark Twain. Mark Twain
time.called the area of the Mississippi that flows both east
Its persistence, its might, its ancient history; its simpleand west between Davenport, Iowa and Rock Island,
elemental being has touched millennia of humans,Illinois, known as the "Quad Cities", the Land of the
animals, plants, and earth. Its timelessness and spiritSunsets.
have attempted to be told through countless tales, butWater skiing was invented on the Mississippi River in
seeing Ol' Man River is an experience words and1922, in a wide part called Lake Pepin, between
pictures can't completely capture.Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Upper Mississippi alone
Some Great River Facts You May Not Knowhas over 600 water recreational sites.
The Father of Waters meanders all around itsThe Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in New Orleans is
expansive floodplain taking 1,700 miles of twists, turns,the world's longest over-water highway bridge at 24
and bows to complete its trip. A drop of rain plungingmiles long. One of the great geologic oddities of the
into Lake Itasca, the Big River's origin, will take 90 daysworld is found at Crowley's Ridge in eastern Arkansas
to reach the Gulf of Mexico.-- the Delta's only "highlands". Only one other
Each flood changes the face of the Mississippi Rivercomparable land form in the world and exists in Siberia.
making its exact length impossible to measure butIllinois Borders
estimates are over 2,350 miles from its origin to theThough the Mississippi River carves the borders for
Gulf. The Great River and its tributaries drains 41ten states, Illinois heritage has blossomed and grown
percent of North American waters -- a total of 1.2 tofrom this almost omnipotent river. Though the river's
1.8 million square miles over 31 states and twoactual real estate is constantly changing, people have
Canadian provinces.been building, living, and prospering from the river's
The Gathering of Waters forms the third largestpresence and ocean-like continuity since humankind
drainage basin in the world. Its system of 29 dams andexisted.
locks extends for 669 miles between Minneapolis andWhether you are a seasoned Illinoian, fresh Illinois
Granite City, IL.resident, or looking to the Land of Lincoln to be your
The depth of the Mississippi River ranges from as littlenext home, take the time to discover this potent river
as three feet at its Minnesotan headwaters to 200and all of its Mississippi River lore.
feet between New Orleans' Algiers Point and