The Origin of The Mississippi
The Mississippi River has its source in Lake Itasca, a small lake in the hills of northern Minnesota. From Lake Itasca the river surveys a total of 2,320 miles (3,734 km) over the course of its journey before it eventually empties its ample waters into the Gulf of Mexico. This means the Mississippi is the fourth longest river in the world and the third longest in the United States of America.
Over the course of its history, the river has framed the boundaries between numerous states and served as a major route for commercial transportation. Before the invention of steam powered ships, the Mississippi served as a navigable from St. Paul, Minnesota, all the way to the Port of New Orleans.
How Deep is The Mississippi?
At its source Lake Itasca, the Mississippi is a mere feet (0.3 m) deep – a shallow depth that allows waders to easily traverse it. As the river moves downstream, however, it quickly deepens. Its shallowest point is in Lake Pepin, settling at around 25 feet (7.6 m).
At its longest point, the river reaches a depth of over 200 feet (60 m), with an average depth of approximately 50 feet (15 m). In places with soft beds and gentle gradients, the waters of the Mississippi can reach depths of up to 250 feet (76 m).
Origin of the Mississippi’s Name?
The current name of the river is believed to originate from the Ojibwe language, a term used to describe a large body of water. The exact meaning of the name ‘mississippi’ is however still disputed, with multiple perspectives being offered by language experts.
One such interpretation suggests that the name translates to ‘the gathering of waters’, which is in agreement with the river’s keenness for amplifying during periods of heavy rain. Other experts however, believe the word has a different origins, with the word being recorded as an archaic spelling of ‘misi-ziibi’ – meaning ‘great river’.
Importance of The Mississippi
At the time of its discovery by French explorers in the 17th century, the Mississippi’s large scale ensured it quickly became a significant commercial resource. The river soon served as a major transportation route for merchant ships laden with goods, the most in-demand of them being cotton – due to the river’s dense proximity to the fields.
Further developments ensued, with steam powered vessels being introduced, revolutionizing the way goods were shipped up and down the Mississippi. The following era saw numerous sights created along the river’s banks, with towns and cities being erected to boost the Mississippi’s economic postulation.
What Lives in The Mississippi?
The Mississippi has been known to impose a dominating presence on wildlife, with a plethora of creatures living in and around its waters. A vast range of critters, from invertebrates, amphibians, reptiles, fish and birds, can all be found scuttling around its edges.
Notable species that live in the Mississippi include such creatures such as the paddlefish, the paddlefish, the endangered pallid sturgeon, numerous mussel species, yellow-bellied turtles, bullfrogs and channel catfish. While its waters no doubt provide sustenance and shelter for multitudes of beings, its banks too, boast a wide variety of wildlife.
Shifting Ecosystems of the Mississippi
The Mississippi River has been subject to countless natural changes over the centuries, with its ecosystems having met with varying levels of strain from human contact and industry.
Major changes seen in recent years have included damages to the fish and wildlife populations due to the introduction of bottom trawling along with increased levels of nutrient pollution caused by agricultural run-off. Such effects on the delicate state of the river have been exacerbated by the increase in drought severity owing to climate change.
Preservation Projects of the Mississippi
In light of the challenges that the Mississippi’s habitats now face, projects have been established to help protect the vulnerable ecosystems of the river.
The main scheme is the ‘Restoration of the Mississippi River Delta’, a project created by the Environmental Defence Fund in conjunction with the Nature Conservancy. The project has a twofold aim, which primarily seeks to protect the populations and habitats of the delta, while simultaneously reducing the risk of floods and providing natural defence from hurricanes.
Additionally, the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area are a collaboration of 18 public, private and non-profit organisations all working together to provide 73 miles of uninterrupted natural beauty for the public to enjoy.
Effects of the Proliferation of Damns
The introduction of dams along the river’s banks has helped facilitate navigation, with the final reaches of the Mississippi, from Cairo to New Orleans, now carrying up to 300 barges of product along its banks each day.
The construction of such dams has also proved beneficial in regards to providing water resources to the states of Arkansas and Mississippi, with the available volumes helping lengthy periods of drought.
At the same time, the introduction of dams has caused a multitude of problems to various riverine habitats, with inundation caused by the dams having severely impacted the landscape on multiple occasions. The effects of the dams have been most keenly felt by species of amphibians and fish, which are both heavily reliant on the mouth of the river in order to breed.
Controversies Surrounding the Mississippi
Activities that occur along the banks of the Mississippi have also become subject to controversy and debate. Major issues that have caused issues include the introduction of wastewater treatment plants, and other such hazardous waste management facilities, being placed along river banks.
All these establishment however, disburse large amounts of sewage and polluted run-off into the water, leading to an epidemic of common water-borne diseases such as hepatitis A and E. coli. And with the increase of population and subsequent industrialisation, the river is now under serious threat of becoming dangerously over-polluted.
The Future of the Mississippi River
Ultimately, the future looks uncertain for the Mississippi River in the face of climate change and the proliferation of human industry.
In order to safeguard the river’s ecology, actions need to be taken to help reduce the rate of water pollution and unnecessary changes to natural habitats. The introduction of restrictions, more efficient waste management systems, increased education and the enforcements of regulations need to be reported to ensure the river is free of unnatural hazards.
With such measures in place, the Mississippi River has the potential to once survive for future generations to come and enjoy.
