The Mississippi River plays an enormous part in American culture and is often considered to be the defining river of the United States. It’s nearly 4,000-mile journey from its source in Lake Itasca, Minnesota to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico is one of the great American adventures that take it through ten states – Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. With its seemingly endless journey, many have been left to wonder, does the Mississippi River flow into the Atlantic Ocean?
The answer to this question may surprise some. Despite its impressive length, the Mississippi River never actually reaches the Atlantic Ocean. Instead, it empties its waters into the Gulf of Mexico after crossing through its last state, Louisiana. This huge river ends in the Gulf of Mexico, not the Atlantic Ocean. Yet despite this, the waters of the Mississippi are vital to the success of the Atlantic’s marine ecosystem since it supplies one third of the fresh water that eventually flows through into the Atlantic. Meaning the importance of this river to the Atlantic cannot be underestimated in its role of providing nutrient rich waters from upstream organisms and sediments.
Despite this it can be argued that due to the sheer magnitude of the Mississippi River, it is merely a technicality that it does not link directly to the Atlantic Ocean. The river can be traced all the way to the Atlantic Ocean from a deep-water connection from the Gulf of Mexico. This connection is known as the Loop Current, which is a shallow gulf stream located in the Atlantic Ocean that reaches far beyond to the Caribbean and the Yucatán Peninsula. This current makes a circuitous journey back to the Gulf of Mexico and the Mississippi river. As such, river water that has made its way to the Gulf is still carried to the East and can eventually reach the ocean far away.
With that said, the impact of the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean is not only felt physiographically, but also has a wider environmental impact because of the water flow. Many experts have pointed out that the Mississippi River provides a natural buffer to the volatile storm surges in the Gulf as well as an invaluable source of sediment and moisture to the Atlantic. The river is responsible for delivering 10-20 million tons of sediment and nutrients such as phosphorous and nitrogen into the ocean each year. These nutrients are the main providers for aquatic life, such as fish, shrimp, and oysters. These nutrients also create the marshlands and wetlands, which are vital habitats for many birds.
Furthermore, the Mississippi helps maintain salinity levels in the ocean, allowing bacteria and ocean microorganisms to continue growth and influence the atmosphere. The salty and nutrient rich water of the Mississippi help replenish these essential levels and can even temper the impacts of extreme weather on the seas. As prominent marine scientist Dr. Paul Falkowski succinctly summarizes “We now know that river systems, such as the Mississippi, not only stir the ocean’s depths in a more efficient way, but also conveys more nutrients to the open ocean than thought, this has important implications for how land and sea interact.”
With so many beneficial impacts of the Mississippi River for the Atlantic Ocean, it can definitely be argued that the two are closely linked and interdependent systems, even if the Mississippi does not flow directly into the ocean. Clearly this river plays an essential role in maintaining the vitality of the Atlantic Ocean.
Expert Perspectives
The view of experts on the role of the Mississippi River on the Atlantic Ocean has been long-established. For instance, Professor Douglas Kennedy of the Florida Gulf Coast University has provided his opinion on the river’s influence: “It is true that the Mississippi River does not flow directly into the Atlantic Ocean but even though the end of the river is in the Gulf of Mexico, it provides crucial benefits to the Atlantic Ocean. It also means that upstream water flows will enrich the nutrient makeup in the Atlantic and cool the warm waters of the Gulf near the mouth of the Mississippi.”
Similarly, high-ranking officials of the Environmental Protection Agency have echoed the perspective of Professor Kennedy. In their report ‘The Roleplayed by the Mississippi River in Ocean Health’, the utmost importance of sustaining the River is highlighted: “River systems such as the Mississippi play an outsized role in determining the health of the ocean, both improving and damaging the quality of ocean water, fisheries and other aspects of Ocean ecology.”
Overall, it seems clear that both experts and officials have come to the consensus that the impacts of the Mississippi River on the Atlantic Ocean are substantial, even if the Mississippi is not flowing directly into the ocean itself. To that end, the maintenance and control of the river is both necessary and vital for the active preservation and safeguarding of the Atlantic Ocean.
Economic Impact
The economic impact of the river is also impressive. The Mississippi River offers the potential for hydroelectric power, agricultural irrigation and drinking water. According to a report released by the Environmental Protection Agency, the economic impact of the Mississippi River on southern states alone is almost 2.6 billion dollars. In addition to this, the US Army Corps of Engineers reported that five ports in the region provide annual economic benefits of over 38 billion dollars in exports and imports alone.
Beyond this, studies have estimated that almost 90% of the population depend on the river in some shape or form either directly or indirectly. This suggests that safeguarding and protecting the Mississippi River is essential for both the local and global economy and is indicative of the fact that the river is still providing direct sustenance to the US and other regions.
Pollution and Conservation
Unfortunately, it is worth noting that the Mississippi River is suffering from immense pollution within its boundaries. This largely stems from activities such as fishing, logging, shipping, drainage and agricultural runoff. The lack of proper regulation and control of these activities has seen numerous toxic and hazardous materials contaminate the river and dangerously debilitate its ability to maintain the Atlantic Ocean’s ecosystem.
To address this, a number of governments and organisations have started to endorse the preservation and conservation of the Mississippi River. This began in the late 1980s when the Clean Water Act was established in order to combat the effects of water pollution within the region. This act ideally aimed to greatly limit the pollution of the river and add to the quality of water and life present in the river. Additionally, the US Army Corps of Engineers have put into place strict regulations for many of the activities, industries, and businesses that contaminate the waters of the river.
In the past few years, several organisations have been pioneering their own initiatives in the hopes of preserving the river and restoring some of its lost values. A prime example comes from the Mississippi River Network, an organisation with a mission to ensure the long-term health and vitality of the river’s resources in order to benefit the river’s surrounding communities.
Conclusion
In summary, this elusive question of whether the Mississippi River flows into the Atlantic Ocean does not have an easy answer. Geographically, the answer is no and yet, the impacts the Mississippi has on the ocean are still immense. Every day, the waters of the Mississippi replenish, rejuvenate, and provide the lifeblood of the ocean with nutrients and oxygen. This is not to mention the economic benefits of the river, which offer opportunities to a region in decline. Clearly, safeguarding the river is vital in order to protect the Atlantic Ocean and its own life-dependent ecosystem.
