The Mississippi River is one of the most well-known rivers in the world and one of the most important rivers in the United States. Spanning an impressive 2,350 miles, the river draws its waters from its tributary the Missouri River, located in Eastern Montana and ultimately empties into the Gulf of Mexico. As the country’s fourth-longest river, it is essential to a variety of economic, cultural, and recreational activities across America. But what countries does the Mississippi River go through?
The Mississippi River runs through two main countries: the United States and Canada. Its path can be broken down into two main parts, beginning with the Upper Mississippi River, which is the portion of the river that flows from its source in Lake Itasca (Minnesota) to its confluence with the Missouri River at St. Louis, Missouri. This portion of the Mississippi is 870 miles long, running through the states of Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, and Illinois. Here, the Mississippi touches several major cities such as Minneapolis, St. Louis, and Davenport.
Beyond the Missouri River, the Lower Mississippi River takes over. This part of the Mississippi encompasses 1,380 miles and is the larger portion of the river, running from St. Louis to the Gulf of Mexico. In this part of the river, the Mississippi runs through the U.S. states of Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana, before eventually entering the Gulf of Mexico. In doing so, the Mississippi passes through additional major cities such as Memphis and New Orleans, touching the lives of millions of people along the way.
The Mississippi is especially vital to the economy of the United States. The river is used to transport an estimated 570 million tons of cargo each year, representing billions of dollars in commerce conducted annually. In addition, the waterway provides irrigation for thousands of acres of farmland and generates important segments of electricity needed by various power plants. Overall, the Mississippi River represents an essential economic lifeblood for the people it touches.
Furthermore, the Mississippi River plays a major historical role in the United States. It was the original “highway” for early settlers, providing access to the Central and Western portions of the country. Tribes such as the Dakota and Cheyenne have called the riverbanks home for hundreds of years and its history is also intertwined with the age of slavery in the United States. The Mississippi is also an iconic symbol of American culture, inspiring authors such as Mark Twain, and some of the most celebrated traditional music in the United States, such as the blues.
Environmental Issues of the Mississippi River
Despite its accolades, the Mississippi is also plagued with problems that have encroached on its overall health. Persistent flooding, due to its vast length, causes hundreds of billions of dollars in damage each year, while pollution, archaic dams, and over-farming all contribute to the decline of the behemoth estate. The effects of such degradation in the river’s ecosystem have been far-reaching, affecting both the quality of drinking water and aquatic habitats.
Organizations such as the Louisiana Coastal Alliance, River Network, and American Rivers are actively pursuing measures to preserve the health of the River. Prominent activities of the organizations include advocacy efforts, on-the-ground restoration, and advocacy for finding smart solutions to the ever-growing issues of the Mississippi. The potential for restoration measures is hopeful, as is the potential for the awareness for the need for conservation. Ultimately, the health of the Mississippi River is an integral part of the culture, economy, and environment of the United States.
Challenges Facing the Mississippi River
Due to the sheer length and breadth of the Mississippi, managing its health is a complex feat. This undertaking requires the involvement of various expertise, ranging from natural engineers to local communities, businesses, and governments. Coordinating efforts, the effects of an increasingly urbanized and industrial environment, and the realities of looming climate change are daunting. Collectively, such challenges do not bode well for the future of the river, and the efforts focusing on achieving a sustainable balance of water usage.
The Benefits of the Mississippi River
Despite such challenges, the Mississippi also confers an incredible array of benefits, from its role in providing fresh drinking water to its capacity for increasing biodiversity. It is also an important part of the eco-economic system, providing a commute for millions of people, playing a major role in the nation’s economy, and hosting some of the most breathtaking natural settings in the country.
The Mississippi’s rustic charm, with its rolling grassy hills and cottonwood trees, provide a unique experience few other locations can match. It is a place to explore and to connect, be it physical or spiritual. In the United States, the river represents its people, a safe haven for its species, and an essential part of our nation’s history.
Educating about the Mississippi River
The quality of the Mississippi River – and of rivers everywhere – relies largely on public awareness. Although the challenges facing the Mississippi are complex, everyone can do their part to help. This is why organizations like the Trust for Public Land are investing in meaningful programs such as River University. Through comprehensive curriculum, the Trust for Public Land seeks to educate children and adults of the critical need to care for the Mississippi.
Ultimately, understanding what countries does the Mississippi River go through is one part of the puzzle. However, it is just as important to recognize the river’s immense influence on the United States, both culturally and economically. If no action is taken to preserve the river, the effects may be disastrous far into the future, not just in the US but the world over.
Science-Based Conservation of the Mississippi River
As more is learned about the river through research, organizations such as environmental protection firms, conservation organizations, and maritime agencies are leveraging data-driven methods to better-conserve the river’s assets. Utilizing the most up-to-date research on sedimentation, water chemistry, and flow dynamics, organizations can better-consider the effects of various water-use activities. This, in turn, permits a science-based conservation of the river and its ecosystems.
To further such scientific thought, state and federal governments are working to pass laws that provide better protection to the Mississippi River. These regulations are specifically aimed at reducing pollution through the enforcement of water quality standards, among other progressive approaches.
Ultimately, the health of the Mississippi River is the responsibility of us all. As citizens, it is important that we take measures to educate ourselves and others about the potential positive and negative impacts of our actions. Doing so allows us to better appreciate what we have and gives us the opportunity to help preserve it.
Increasing Public Awareness about the Mississippi River
Increased public awareness about the Mississippi is one of the most promising strategies for preserving the river and its resources. Through non-profit organizations, such as the National Mississippi River Museum & Aquarium and the Mississippi World Conservation Congress, many of the educational, recreational and cultural experiences that the Mississippi provides are made available for public consumption. Providing visitors with experiences such as interactive exhibits, lectures, and demonstrations allows them to become more aware, and more passionate, about the river and its ongoing needs.
The deepening of such knowledge can help people to better appreciate the breadth of the Mississippi’s power and will ultimately lead to greater efforts to preserve the health of the river. In addition to the various aforementioned organizations, people can also take part in the efforts to preserve the River by joining local watershed activities and participating in clean-up drives.
Other Solutions to Preserve the Mississippi River
Other organizations, such as the Mighty Mississippi, are also committed to finding innovative solutions that can help preserve the health of the River. The organization provides landowners, farmers and other citizens with access to finance and assistance programs that support the implementation of conservation practices within the watershed. These practices include activities such as filling in gullies, re-vegetating river banks and levees, as well as various controlled burning practices.
Overall, the Mighty Mississippi is a valuable instrument in the support of revitalizing the ecosystem of the Mississippi and to promote long-term sustainability. Such efforts give hope that one day, the Mississippi may be restored to its former health and allow the river to live up to its full potential.
Restoring the Mississippi River Ecosystem
Restoring the Mississippi River and its ecosystem can feel like a huge task. However, with the commitment from individuals and organizations, the future of the River remains promising. Organizations such as Mississippi Rivers Revitalization Corporation have created Mississippi River Water Trails and taken other measures to rebuild the ecosystems of the river.
The organization is utilizing resilient adaptive design to restore habitats, wetlands, and other natural features along the River and its surrounding watersheds. This process involves the strategic placement of native vegetation and other materials, which give the river the capacity to sustainably adapt to different river dynamics and help to reduce flooding, while offering various habitats to aquatic species and fish.
In addition, Mississippi Rivers Revitalization Corporation has been a great participant in the Sustainable Fisheries Initiative of the Mississippi River. This program works to restore many of the wetlands and bluffs along the river, while attempting to restore various native species, including the aquatic birds and fish.
These efforts are just a few of the many steps being taken to reduce the effects of pollution and increasing restoration. Restoring the health of the Mississippi River is a complex process, requiring individual and collective action. With the combined efforts of organizations, community partnerships, and businesses, the future of the River looks somewhat brighter.
