Mississippi River Length
The mighty Mississippi River is the second-longest river in the United States and its inception into the Gulf of Mexico marks the border between the two nations of the United States and Mexico—and two major watersheds. The river is both a vital source of drinking water, agriculture and transportation as well as an iconic symbol of the American landscape and one of the main arteries for businesses trading goods and services. So how long is the Mississippi River?
The length of the Mississippi River can be measured from the source of its longest headstream, Lake Itasca in Minnesota, to its terminus in the Gulf of Mexico. This portion of the river is estimated to be about 2,320 miles (3,734 kilometers) in length. Over its journey through ten states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana—it collects and carries water from 31 major tributaries across a drainage area of approximately 1.2 million square miles (3 million square kilometers).
The Mississippi River has played a vital role in the establishment and growth of many settlements and cities along its shores, such as St. Louis, Missouri and Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Aside from its commercial importance, the river serves as a source of recreation and inspiration for many, who come to the river banks to observe and appreciate its unique landscape, comprised of wooded bluffs and gravel plains, as well as some of its prominent species, such as the endangered Pallid Sturgeon. Every day, hundreds of people take part in activities, from camping, hunting and fishing to simply spending time along its captivating shores.
Although the river has seen better days, it is now subject to pollution and over-fishing, both of which result in the degradation of the ecosystem. To seek solutions and address environmental problems, the US Army Corps of Engineers constructed a network of locks and dams along the river, beginning in the 1930s, as a system of short cuts to allow barges to access the bridges and locks.
Corps engineers also constructed levees and other works to help reduce the risk of flooding, but these have sometimes increased the risk by accelerating the flow rate and narrowing the channel, which further contributes to the depletion of fish and other wildlife. Over the decades, local and state governments, conservation groups and the US Congress have undertaken rigorous efforts to protect and restore the river. The most visible of these are the restoration projects that take place every year, primarily during the summer months.
Today folks can still journey along the entire length of the Mississippi River and experience its natural beauty as well as its cultural and commercial history. From the source at Lake Itasca, one can experience the headwaters, to its mid-level, where blue-green wetlands, cypress swamps and flooded fields line the banks, to the lower portion of the river and into the Gulf of Mexico, where mangroves provide essential habitat for indigenous wildlife and the river’s flow is affected by powerful tides.
Tributaries of the Mississippi River
In addition to the main stem of the Mississippi River, there are numerous tributaries stretching throughout several U.S. states including Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Missouri, Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. It has 31 major tributaries, which contribute much of the drainage and sediment that have shaped the river’s delta over time. The tributaries of the Mississippi River consist of both rivers and creeks, with some of the largest being the Minnesota River, Arkansas River, Missouri River, Red River, Ohio River and the Illinois River.
Each of these tributaries is connected to the Mississippi River via a network of channels and bays throughout the region. All of these tributaries and the Mississippi River itself are part of an interconnected system that extends from the Midwest United States all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. It is through this system that much of the water transported throughout the region, both for navigation and agricultural purposes, is able to reach its destination.
In addition to providing beneficial nutrients and sediment for the entire ecosystem, the Mississippi River and its tributaries also serve as a vital source of drinking water for communities in the area. This is especially important in the cases of cities such as New Orleans, Louisiana, Memphis, Tennessee and St. Louis, Missouri—all dependent on the clean drinking water of the Mississippi River.
From freshwater to saltwater, the Mississippi River tributary system provides a vital connection between the Midwest and Gulf of Mexico. This connection is an integral part of the local ecology, providing the source that nourishes a wide variety of plants and wildlife along the banks of the River, as well as those that inhabit the delta and the Gulf of Mexico. It is this connection that is essential to numerous industries in the region, from commercial fishing to transportation.
Navigation on the Mississippi River has been of utmost importance ever since French explorer Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet first studied the area in the late seventeenth century. Shortly afterwards, the river assumed its current importance for transportation of goods and supplies among cities and towns situated along its length. The river has always been a major route for large commercial vessels, with the need for an efficient and safe transportation system becoming more evident with the growth of the U.S. economy.
To facilitate navigation on the Mississippi River, the Army Corps of Engineers constructed a series of locks and dams. These fixed dams divide the river into a series of pools, creating slack-water navigation, allowing barges and other ships to access the bridges and locks. The locks and dams also serve as important flood-control mechanisms, preventing flooding in areas downstream of each lock and dam.
The current Mississippi River navigational system includes 29 locks, 25 major pools and 14 substation pools, some of which are operational while others are inactive. The locks are opened and closed to provide consistent water depths of 9-10 feet (2.7-3.0 meters) at low-water levels and 12-15 feet (3.7-4.6 meters) at normal water level. This ensures that fully loaded barges and vessels can safely navigate the river and reach their destinations without incident.
Environmental Concerns
In recent years, the river has experienced rapid changes due to intensive agricultural, industrial and commercial activities, as well as urban runoff and other sources of human-derived pollution. As the main waterway for runoff from the surrounding regions, this pollution typically affects the river downstream, leading to the degradation of fish, bird and other wildlife. The degradation of the river system also comes with an increased risk of flooding, damage to crops and other damages.
In order to reduce the environmental consequences of activities taking place in the Mississippi River Basin, the Corps of Engineers endorsed a variety of measures, which include steps to reduce agricultural runoff and introduce alternative energy sources. These measures are implemented by local, state and federal entities. For instance, the Mississippi River Valley and its adjacent communities have seen the introduction of protected habitat areas and floodplain zoning efforts, which strengthen the conservation effort in the region.
The federal government is also working to restore the wetlands in the region, with the Lower Mississippi River Delta (LMRD) being the focus of much of this effort. This initiative is part of a multi-agency program to address water management issues and reduce the risk of flooding. With continued restoration and conservation efforts in the region, it is expected that the health of the Mississippi River and its tributaries will improve in the future.
Flooding of the Mississippi River
Flooding is a natural occurrence of rivers, and the Mississippi River is no exception. This flooding is often caused by poor land use practices, overgrazing and urbanization, all of which reduce the river’s natural ability to absorb water. When this occurs, the river’s water levels rise significantly and overflow its banks, causing costly damage to property and infrastructure. This can also cause displacement of people and wildlife, further damaging the ecosystem.
To combat this, the United States Corps of Engineers – in conjunction with various conservation agencies – implemented several flood control methods, such as constructing levees and other works to reduce the risk of flooding. Unfortunately, these works can sometimes increase the risk of flooding by blocking sediments from the surrounding areas and accelerating the flow of the river. To reduce the risk of flooding, as well as to conserve its resources, the state and federal governments have implemented stricter regulations for land use, water use, and agricultural runoff.
In recent years, the government has taken even further steps in revising its river management regulations. This includes improved coordination between various agencies and organizations, streamlined programs of flood control and mitigation, as well as the introduction of “green infrastructure” projects, which use natural or man-made wetlands and forests to absorb water and reduce the damage caused by flooding.
River Studies
The Mississippi River is part of a complex natural system that extends from southwestern Canada through the United States Midwestern states. Understanding this system is essential for managing the river’s resources and understanding the potential impacts of its pollution and development. To this end, universities, state and federal organizations have conducted numerous studies related to the Mississippi River.
These studies analyze the river’s sediment and nutrient transport, hydrology and ecology, among other aspects. Through these studies, scientists have gained a better understanding of the river and its role in the larger ecosystem. As a result, they have been able to develop strategies to address environmental issues, such as increasing water quality and restoring wetlands, both of which are essential for sustaining the river’s resources.
By gaining a better understanding of the Mississippi River, scientists have also been able to identify gaps in knowledge and areas of needed improvement in the river’s management. For instance, many studies have looked at the interaction between land and water, focusing on how different land uses (agricultural runoff and urbanization) affect the river’s health. With continued research and implementation of strategies, scientists and conservationists remain optimistic about the future of the Mississippi River.
