The mouth of the Mississippi River has been a point of contention for historians and geographers since the time of the earliest settlers of North America. For centuries the opening of the the Mississippi has defied definitive classification and control and remains a reminder of the might of nature and its capacity to confound human designs. Most people assume the mouth of the Mississippi is located within the United States, but the location is far more complicated and revealing of the history and geography of North America.
The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world, stretching from its source in Northern Minnesota to its end in Atchafalya Basin, Louisiana. Despite its overall length, only a comparatively narrow stretch of the river is situated in Canada: around two kilometres of the river in a bend known as Passamaquoddy Bay. This region is on the border of Canada, straddling the present-day states of Maine and New Brunswick, and prior to the drawing of the national borders was occupied by a variety of native tribes. The area, still known today by the names of the Wabanaki and Maliseet people, is home to a great variety of wildlife, migratory and aquatic, and carries a great cultural importance, both historical and contemporary.
The mouth of the Mississippi then, lies at the intersection of two very different nations: Canada and the United States. Depending on precise aims in defining the Mississippi, whether as a political border or a geographic landmark, one might point to a range of different indications of where the Mississippi begins and ends. For instance, for navigational purposes the mouth of the Mississippi is usually set as the point at which the Gulf of Mexico enters the Atchafalya delta – this would define the river as solely within the United States. Through the lens of environmental studies, historians, social scientists and geographers, however, the borders of the Mississippi can be assessed to incorporate a much wider area including all of the Atchalfaya delta as well as the Wabanaki/Maliseet area of Canada.
According to The American Institute of Fishery Research, the Atchafalya is home to one of the greatest concentrations of life on the entire river – double that of the main course of the Mississippi. The river and its delta are home to many species of fish hooked by recreational and commercial fishermen, and around which the native tribes build their societies and develop their culture and traditions. In this regard, it must be included that the native people of the area consider Passamaquoddy Bay, which formed from the spilling of the mouth of the river in the Bay of Fundy, to be an important part of the Mississippi, for reasons both cultural and economic.
It is clear then that the definition of the mouth of the Mississippi is far from simple. Precisely how much of the river must be taken into consideration to define the Mississippi’s mouth is a complex question with multiple answers, depending on the expertise and chosen interpretation of the scientist. What is clear, however, is that the mouth of the Mississippi’s definition straddles the United States and Canada, critically impacting both nations.
Economic Impact
As a result of the international nature of the mouth of the Mississippi River, the area has important economic implications. Not only is the area of Passamaquoddy Bay home to a large variety of species, including shellfish and migrating birds, which can be fished and hunted for commercial use, the area is also home to an ongoing dredging project, designed to make navigation of the river easier and more accessible for larger ships. However, the economic implications of the project are rooted in a long and tumultuous history between the two countries.
In 1827 the British and American governments signed the Treaty of Washington, legalizing the use of the mouth of the Mississippi for shipping. This was eventually amended in 1908 to distinguish between Canadian and American shipping. The Canadian navy inhabited the river from this point forward, enforcing the previously rigid trade laws and limiting the number of ships entering and departing the mouth of the river at any one time.
The importance of the mouth of the Mississippi to each country’s economy, however, can only be described in terms of the respective nations’ military agendas. Having access to the river was paramount to both nations’ security, and thus led to an ever increasing level of enforcement and oversight. In 2015 the United States and Canada signed a formal agreement allowing full access to the river to both countries, regardless of their respective nationality, alleviating the tensions that had been built up around the mouth of the Mississippi in recent years.
Environmental Impact
The mouth of the Mississippi is an incredibly important source of biomass for the Gulf of Mexico, and the river continues to play a critical role in the overall health of the oceaned. As the largest watershed in North America, the Mississippi River and its delta are responsible for providing essential nutrients and fresh water to some of the largest marine ecosystems in the world. As such, the mouth of the Mississippi has been subject to a number of regulations and management plans, designed to monitor and limit the human impact on the fragile surroundings.
In addition to the regulatory efforts, many organizations in both the United States and Canada have undertaken projects to protect and enhance the region surrounding the mouth of the river, including the conservation of wildlife habitats and the reclamation of man-made wetlands. The American Friends of the Mississippi Delta and the Canadian Mississippi Delta Alliance have devoted immense energies to tackling issues concerning fishing, conservation, and tourism around the mouth of the Mississippi River. One of the greatest outcomes of their collaboration has been the protection of Atchafalya basin and Passamaquoddy Bay, significantly improving the local environment and providing a wonderful habitat for the wide variety of species found in the area.
Biological Impact
The mouth of the Mississippi is the end point of an incredibly diverse ecosystem, providing an essential habitat for a wide array of plants, animals, and birds. The region is home to over 500 species, including the bald eagle, the Louisiana black bear, and the American alligator. The mouth of the Mississippi is the site of incredible biodiversity, directly impacting not only the local environment but also the rest of North America’s vital ecosystems.
The presence of so many species in such a small area also means that the area functions as a sort of interspecies communication center, transmitting and sharing information about the climate, conditions, and changes of the Passamaquoddy Bay. The inhabitants of the region share various news and updates with one another, from the availability of certain breeds of fish to the locations of suitable nesting sites. In this way, the mouth of the Mississippi can be seen as forming an important and complex network of communication, connecting the habitats and species of both sides of the border.
Cultural Impact
The Mississippi has for centuries been closely tied to the culture of the people who inhabit its banks and its estuary. The Wabanaki and Maliseet people of the Passamaquoddy Bay, in particular, have a strong spiritual connection to the area and have put forward many traditional customs and beliefs that connect them to the Mississippi. Interestingly, the people of the Passamaquoddy believe that the mouth of the Mississippi is in Canada, its northernmost reaches located just beyond the border in an area of the Bay they call Weekpaemtek.
This cultural importance of the mouth of the Mississippi has been recognized by the local governments, with both the United States and Canadian governments protecting it as a cultural site. In particular, the United Nations recently declared the area as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, recognizing the significance of the area to the local tribes and its value to the rest of the world as a valuable part of its biological and cultural history.
Political Impact
The shared interpretation of the mouth of the Mississippi has generated considerable tension between the United States and Canada in the past, especially during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries when the two nations were at odds over trade and resources. Despite a long history of border disputes, both nations have since come to recognize the mutual benefits of recognizing the passage to the Mississippi as an international waterway.
Nowadays, the mouth of the Mississippi has become a symbol of cooperation and a testament to the success of bilateral agreements. Both countries have much to gain from trade and resources, as well as from a strong cultural exchange. In fact, the two nations recently renewed their joint agreements, granting full access and rights to the mouth of the Mississippi for both countries without exception or restriction.
Social Impact
The mouth of the Mississippi has also come to represent a unique social bond between the two nations. The tribes that inhabit the area remain significant partners in the decision making process, and their presence in the area has in many ways made it a social bridge between the two sides of the border.
The tribes’ sense of community is based on a compelling dose of shared history, culture, and self-understanding. As they use the river as a route for trade and as a meeting point to share news and gossip, the community gradually builds a stronger sense of unity and community. As such, the area has become a focal point for both nations in terms of meeting, negotiating, and socializing, becoming a living symbol of their shared history and joint destiny.
Impact on Local Communities
The mouth of the Mississippi is surrounded by numerous small cities and settlements, whose livelihoods are deeply embedded in the history and culture of the area. Many of these communities lie in both the United States and Canada, and as such, the residents of these areas share in the border tension and anxiety over the protection of their resources, jobs, and heritage.
The communities have also been deeply affected by the management of the Mississippi, with their traditional fishing and gathering practices coming under threat by the new regulations and international agreements. Nonetheless, their passion remains undiminished and the communities of the mouth of the Mississippi are stronger and more united than ever, their shared struggles and values completing defining them and helping them to remember and honor the history of their shared homeland.
Conclusion
The mouth of the Mississippi River is unlike many other bodies of water in North America, being a poignant reminder of government border disputes and cultural jointy of the two countries. Despite its historical complexity, the river and its delta have formed a bridge between the two nations, creating a shared understanding of the importance of the area for both nations and for the rest of the world. In addition, the mouth of the Mississippi has proved to be a vital link between the local communities and the environment, and will continue to serve as the mainstay of the North American culture and heritage for the years to come.
