What Are Some Tributaries To The Mississippi River

Introduction

The Mississippi River is one of the most important links in the global waterway system, vast in its own right and impacting or connected to at least 32 states in the midwestern, southern and south-eastern United States of America. The river is an titanic 3,000km network with hundreds of tributaries, which both add to the river basin and make it into the fantastic functional waterway it is. In this article, we’ll take a look at some of the river’s greatest tributaries and what they bring to the world.

The Missouri River

The Missouri is one of the most important tributaries of the mighty Mississippi, both geographically and historically. The river is almost 4,000 km long and its headwaters are nestled in the Rocky Mountains of Montana. The Missouri has been a prominent feature of the Midwest since the days of Native American occupancy and it played a major role in the settlement of the western United States in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The river watershed accounts for nearly one third of the Mississippi and it is the longest tributary. About 31% of the total Mississippi Basin is accounted for by Missouri’s drainage and the resulting drainage basin covers more than 1.3 million square kilometres and services six states. Apart from its hydrological importance, the river and its tributaries are also significant for their recreation, fishing and freight activities as well as other forms of commerce.

Ohio River

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Also known as The Beautiful River, the Ohio is one of the largest tributaries of the Mississippi at 970 km long. Its headwaters lie in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and its main stem runs through the midwestern states of Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia before finally meeting with the Mississippi in Cairo, Illinois.

The Ohio River is, together with the Mississippi and the Missouri, part of the Ohio River-Mississippi River-Missouri River watershed which together covers 48 percent of the continental United States, much of it agricultural land. The watershed itself is in some cases hundreds of miles wide and carries vital commercial and recreational activities throughout the participating states.

Yazoo River

The Yazoo river, stretching from Yazoo City, Mississippi to Vicksburg, Mississippi is one of the quintessential tributaries of the Mississippi River. Its length of 290 km makes it one of the mid-sized rivers that branch off of the Mississippi, although it carries a rather large economic and environmental importance with it.

Despite its image as a peaceful, slow-flowing river, the Yazoo is known for its flooding and shifting banks, especially after winter and heavy rains. Despite this, and probably partially because of this, the Yazoo watershed is home to a veritable mix of wetland and floodplain ecosystems, supporting some of the most captivating wildlife in the country.

St. Francis River

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The St. Francis River is one of the many tributaries of the Mississippi and a primary contributing river to the lower Mississippi. It is approximately 486 km long and enshrined by the states of Arkansas and Missouri.

The St. Francis gets its name from the French Saint Francois Xavier, a Jesuit missionary living in the 17th and 18th century. This also provides the name for a rather large number of other places, rivers and counties such as the Saint-François River in Quebec, Saint-François County in Illinois and Saint Francis City in Minnesota.

Arkansas River

The Arkansas River is one of the longest tributaries of the Mississippi River and a fitting source of nourishment and sustenance for the beast of a river. Ranging a comfortable 2,440 km in length, the headwaters of the Arkansas River can be found in the mountains of Colorado, in the southeastern United States.

This river has a special appeal for its many recreational paddlers and hikers, with its midwestern charm filling adventurers seeking to explore its beauty and environment. Its position as a major tributary to the Mississippi gives it the importance its age deserves and its clarity and biodiversity will no doubt last it for generations to come.

Red River

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The Red River is also one of the larger tributaries of the Mississippi, totaling 1,360 km in length. The Red River rises in Texas and flows northeastwards into Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and other states before eventually connecting with the Mississippi.

The banks of the Red River are associated with some of the most influential people in early American history, including Hernando de Soto, George Rogers Clark, Kit Carson and Sam Houston. These legends have left their mark along the Red and shaped history in their own right. Along with them, a substantial number of recreational activities can also be done on or along the Red River, most popularly deer hunting and bass fishing.

Environmental Effects

The tributaries of the Mississippi River help give the main stem an environment that can support a wide variety of ecosystems and wildlife. Oftentimes, the tributaries, especially those that flow slowly, are the key features for fish, wildlife, and other aquatic life, providing them with a place to feed, breed and reproduce.

These very same tributaries can however also be a source of detrimental, albeit temporary, environmental issues. After heavy rains and flooding, the rivers can carry pollutants downstream and into the main stem of the Mississippi, damaging the biodiversity and damaging natural processes. Therefore, the stewardship of the tributaries, their waters and surrounding ecosystems is an incredibly important task and one that should not be overlooked.

Economic Effects

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Alongside their immense biological importance, the tributaries of the Mississippi have traditionally been of huge importance to the economies of the connected US states. Shipping and freight vessels are often too large to navigate the main stem and tributaries, so they must navigate by sea from one port to another.

As was the case in the 18th century, the tributaries are important for their transport networks of people and goods, with barges moving countless tons of freight along them each day. Furthermore, the fishing and recreational activities on the tributaries have become a staple of the aforementioned states’ incomes, bringing in an influx of visitors and money.

Historical Effects

In terms of their historical relevance, the Mississippi’s tributaries form the backdrop for some of the most formative periods in American history. During the 19th century, most settlers in North America were looking for work and heading to the unknown territories, in many cases guided only by their dreams.

During their travels and migrations, the Mississippi River and its tributaries, namely the Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas and Red River, acted as guides and aids to the people that chose to brave the unknown and explore. In many cases, these people were traveling as far as they could, and the tributaries often proved to be a saving grace.

Conclusion of the Tributaries

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To summarise, the tributaries of the Mississippi River have always been important, both historically and currently. They are home to numerous industries, ecosystems and people and they have provided transport, access and guidance to generations of settlers. They offer stunning views of nature and the opportunity to explore and understand some of the most beautiful parts of America.

The tributaries of the Mississippi are nothing short of essential, and their secrets are sure to be revealed for generations more.