Mississippi River: Basics
The Mississippi River is one of the most iconic waterways in America, meandering its way through seven states before finally emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Known for its thundering rapids, fertile soil and lush flora and fauna, the Mississippi has helped shape the American landscape for centuries. It’s estimated that the Mississippi River has been flowing for over 2.5 billion years, and its course may have spontaneously shifted a few times over the course of its history. But one event remains a mystery in the record of its existence: the brief period of time when the Mississippi River briefly actually flowed backwards.
Reversal of Flow
Sometime between June 12 and June 13, 1812 — an exact date can’t be pinned down — the Mississippi River famously reversed its flow. The rumor of the river temporarily going backwards had been circulating through the South since the mid 1700s, but it wasn’t until the early 1800s that a firsthand account of such an incident was made. During his expedition of the Mississippi River, the American frontiersman Zebulon Pike, who was the first to document the event, described how the river had gone “backwards up the hills” and that the river had “reversed its natural course,” running upstream instead of downstream.
Cause of Phenomena
The answer to why such an odd occurrence could happen lies in an ancient sandbar located between St. Paul and Cairo, Illinois. The sandbar acted as a natural dam, creating an iron curtain between the two states that stretched for about 181 miles. When torrential rains flooded the area in June of 1812, the natural dams created by the sandbar caused the Mississippi to reverse its normal flow.
The result of the reversal was a 40-mile long lake that stretched from Baton Rouge, Louisiana all the way up to present-day St. Paul, Minnesota. In June and July of 1812, the Mississippi River actually went in two different directions: north and south, with the South Fork of the river still flowing east to the gulf. Eventually the water level dropped, allowing the river to flow in its regular southbound direction, though some of the local streams and creeks within the Lake of the Mississippi would remain reversed for weeks afterward.
Expert Opinions
According to hydrologists and geologists, the Mississippi River phenomenon back in 1812 isn’t something that’s likely to happen again soon. While catastrophic floods are inevitable after heavy rains, the sandbar that once acted as a dam was eroded away over the years, leaving the river to flow freely in its normal manner.
In addition, the area along the Mississippi has seen great changes due to urban development and engineering projects, which has contributed to the river’s gradual shifting of its course. All of this points to the Mississippi River never reversing its flow, at least not in the same manner as it did in 1812. Geologists and hydrologists did agree, however, that the possibility of a similar occurrence can’t be ruled out entirely, though they add that any such phenomenon is unlikely to happen soon.
My Take
Reading about the Mississippi River reversing its flow is a fairly remarkable phenomenon to read about. It’s not every day that a body of water suddenly flows backwards up hills, in contradiction to our own understanding of how rivers flow and how nature works. It’s truly an unbelievable occurrence in the history of the Mississippi, and serves to illustrate the unforeseen events that can occur in the natural world.
My research into this topic also taught me some things about the Mississippi River I didn’t know before — namely, its incredibly long history of existence. It’s estimated that the Mississippi River has been flowing for over 2.5 billion years! Historical events like the brief period in 1812 when it reversed its flow only adds to the unique story of the Mississippi.
Environmental Impact
Of course, when a river or other body of water changes its course or reverses its flow, it can have a large impact on the environment. In this case, the Mississippi River’s reversing its flow actually temporarily created a new lake. It was estimated to cover over 6,000 square miles and had an estimated depth of around 135 feet. This body of water, thankfully, eventually drained away, but not before having an impact on a variety of habitats and species in the area — including the humans that lived there at that time.
The reversal of the Mississippi River also had a significant economic impact on the area. For instance, cotton plantations sustained heavy losses as the fields and crops were submerged in water for months. People had to flee the area, resulting in a large number of refugees in what was once a populous region.
Controversies
The story of the Mississippi River reversing its flow has been in the public eye since Zebulon Pike first wrote about it in his journals. Four hundred years later, the story remains a subject of controversy and skepticism. Oftentimes, skeptics say that the tale of Pike’s is simply embellished and in fact, this never happened. While some historians agree that the phenomenon took place, others are left unconvinced, citing the lack of concrete evidence.
This controversy over Pike’s adventure does have its benefits — it has sparked debates and conversations among various people throughout the years. People from all walks of life, from non-believers to believers and even the scientists, have weighed in on the subject and taken part in the discussion.
Convoy Missions
To make matters worse, the Mississippi River’s reversal in 1812 wreaked havoc on the military operations that had been going on in the area. The US Navy had a convoy of ships that were on a mission to capture the British sloop HMS Rattlesnake. But due to the backflow of the Mississippi, the navy convoys were forced to find an alternate route, which added weeks of extra travel to their mission.
In addition, the river also cut off vital military resources, as the backflow of water kept the convoy from sailing down the Mississippi, which was their quickest route. Eventually, the convoy was able to make it to their destination, but the journey was difficult due to the shifting of the Mississippi.
Adapting to Changes
Given the changes that the area has seen since the 1800s, it’s hard to imagine the Mississippi River ever reversing its flow again. While it’s impossible to know for certain, it’s safe to predict that the days of the Mississippi suddenly switching directions are over. But in a way, the area has adapted to the shifting of the Mississippi, embracing the unique changes and adapting to the conditions.
For example, in the early 1900s, some towns along the Mississippi decided to move to avoid the flooding of the river. The towns of Terrebonne, Louisiana and Yazoo City, Mississippi were both relocated to their current location further inland, closer to other large ports and cities. This move allowed the towns to survive and thrive in spite of the constant changes to the riverbed.
Managing Expectations
Each generation of people viewing the Mississippi will have a different relationship with the river due to the ever-changing environment that it is part of. People living near the river must remain vigilant and manage expectations when it comes to the Mississippi and other bodies of water that can also experience unexpected changes, like reverse flow or complete cessation of flow.
This is great advice for anyone living near the Mississippi River or any other body of water. Such bodies of water are unpredictable, and governments must remain mindful of developments that could spur a sudden shift in their course. Such shifts can be avoided if the necessary precautions are taken in advance.
Effects on Region
Based on my research, the effects of the Mississippi River’s reversal are still being felt today. The area still sees flooding, albeit of a different kind. In the spring, parts of the region often succumb to flooding in the form of ice jams, which makes travelling along the river an especially challenging task. The landscape has also changed significantly since 1812 — gone are the natural sandbars once serving as dams and the lush vegetation has been replaced by an urban environment, testament to the countless changes the river has seen in the past two centuries.
There’s no denying that the Mississippi River has become one of the most influential and powerful forces in the Southern United States. It continues to shape and mold the American landscape today, just as it has since the beginning of its existence.
