Overview
As the fourth longest river in the world, the Mississippi River has provided sustenance and transportation for humans for centuries. Spanning over 2,300 miles, the Mississippi River is the largest river in North America, flowing through several states including Minnesota, Iowa, Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Its history is steeped in Native American culture, with flooding events and the impact of humans significantly altering the natural course of the river.
What divides the Mississippi river and what is the historical significance? In order to understand the divides of the Mississippi River, we must look back to the influence of the environment and the changing landscape effected by human use.
The Environment and Natural Processes
The river is divided by many formations and landscapes, such as the bluffs and mountains, natural levees, and man-made structures. The Upper Mississippi also has a large amount of nutrients which has impacted the fish and native species living in the river.
Additionally, the geographical variations along the river in terms of topography, width, depth and banks’ elevation, all contribute to different ecological processes and divides the Mississippi. During flooding, the shape of the river is in constant flux, changing course and bringing sediment that stains the water.
What further divides the Mississippi River is the series of locks and dams, which regulate the speed and intensity of the current and control flooding. The locks and dams divide the river into nine shallow and deep navigable divisions, which has helped create a smoother flow for boats and barges travelling down the river.
The influence of the Native Americans
The Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the region, with many tribes located along the river, such as the Sioux, Dakota, and Cherokee. The tribe’s beliefs and values reflect the spiritual connection and respect for the natural environment in the region, which has served to protect the river’s water sources. Their culture has played a key role in engaging with the environment, playing a crucial role in providing knowledge and wisdom on how to work with the environment rather than against it.
The Native Americans had a significant impact on the river divisions, often using the river as a source of food and relying on its floodwaters to be fruitful, using it as a trading route to bring resources together.
The river’s indigenous names and spiritual significance to the Native Americans reflect the importance of the river in their culture, and the fact that they were the first to recognize the divides in the river.
The Impact of Humans
The modern history of the river has been heavily shaped by human intervention and the influence of industrialization. What has divided the Mississippi River nowadays is the continued development on the land, mining, and the introduction of waste from industrial activities.
The levees built to reduce or prevent flood damage has added significantly to the divides of the river. For example, many massive levees have been built that dwarf the natural levees. The Mississippi River is now divided by many bridges and dams, disrupting the natural flow of its current.
The intensive farming practices within the Mississippi River region has also contributed to the river’s divides, with the rise of monoculture and the loss of soil. This leads to an increase in sedimentation and pollution, along with more chemicals and nutrients being released into the water.
The Impact of Climate Change
As climate change continues to disrupt the environment, what divides the Mississippi River is increasingly being affected. Rising sea levels and more frequent floods are putting pressure on the river, resulting in oxygen level decline, ecological imbalances, crop loss and economic decline among affected areas.
According to the Army Corps of Engineers, reducing the influx of water from the river by 25% could help prevent flooding and lower the impacts on both the environment and the people living in the region. Numerous projects exist to address this, such as the Wetland Restoration Initiative and the Reconnecting the River project.
The Wetland Restoration Initiative is focused on restoring wetlands by diverting Mississippi River water into the wetlands, enticing trees and other wildlife to live in the river’s former outflow area. Further, the Reconnecting the River project seeks to restore the natural hydrology of the river by remapping and relocating the pathways of the water from the main stem. Both of these projects have shown promise in restoring the health of the river and its divide.
Modern Transport and Construction
The Mississippi River continues to be one of the most important transportation channels for many industries. Major cities along the river have grown, connecting people and resources. It also serves as an important navigational waterway for freight and leisure boat businesses.
In the modern day, many dams across the river have been breached or modified, creating numerous passes on the river, allowing people to travel more freely. These passes make it easier for boat operators to navigate the Mississippi, as well as allows more fish species to travel upstream and downstream more easily.
Various construction and maintenance along the river has been done, seeking to promote more public access to the river’s beauty. These bridges and trails make it even easier for people to enjoy the sights and navigate their way along the Mississippi.
Economic Benefits
Along with the recreational activities, the Mississippi River also serves a major economic role in the country. Ship cargo, agriculture, and tourism are some of the major employers along the river, benefitting from the rivers potential and its divide.
The combination of transportation and commerce has provided many jobs and opportunities to the people living in the region, creating a great deal of economic value. From waterway transport to recreational activities, the Mississippi River has been an integral part of the regional economy.
The Mighty Mississippi continues to be an important divide for the states it passes through. Its water has been the provider for many people, providing sustenance and life with its nutrients, trading routes and the transportation of goods. Its divide continues to be shaped by both the environment and the humans, with the river holding a spiritual importance to the people living along it.
The Impact on Wildlife
The Mississippi River also provides sustenance and habitat to many wildlife species, such as eagle, beaver, osprey, and waterfowl. Together with the locks and dams, the river creates the perfect habitation spots for a variety of species. This wide range of plant and animal life highlights how the river divides play an important role in the conservation of ecosystems.
What divides the Mississippi River is highly influenced by the natural environment, technology, and human intervention, creating both physical and ecological divides. The placement of the locks and dams has impacted the flow of the river, and created additional divides for transportation and fishing. The dams also affect species such as the paddlefish and sturgeon, providing them refuge from the strong current.
As climate change takes a toll on the environment, the ability of the river to adapt is questionable. However, many actions are being taken to protect the river from human interference, such as creating wildlife sanctuaries, restoring wetlands, and re-engineering dams. Together these efforts help to balance out the divides of the river, letting nature take its course.
Conclusion
What divides the Mississippi River is a reflection of its importance and its unique history. The environment has shaped the physical divides, while the native culture and beliefs of the tribal people provide spiritual connection and understanding of how their ancestors used the river. The human impact of industrialization, transportation, and environmental destruction continues to divide the river, yet efforts to restore its divides and prevent future flooding, improve wildlife habitats, and pass through the navigation locks and dams seek to create an improved and more natural division of the river.
