Introduction
The Mississippi river is one of the major water sources in the United States and its sources are spread across several tributaries. The tributaries that flow into the Mississippi river begin in the flat plains of the Midwest. These tributaries have a major contribution to the overall volume and water level of the river. This article aims to explore the different tributaries that flow into the Mississippi river and provide some insight into their impact.
The Contributing Tributaries
The Missouri river is one of the main tributaries that flow into the Mississippi river. The Missouri river has a length of 2,341 miles and originates from the Rocky Mountains of Montana. It passes through 8 states, including North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and finally Illinois, before it empties into the Mississippi river. This tributary is the longest and most impactful to the Mississippi river.
The second largest tributary of the Mississippi river is the Ohio river. It is the most used tributary and is estimated to contribute 37 percent of the water volumne in the Mississippi river. The Ohio river has a length of 981 miles and originates from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania before going through West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and Illinois before reaching the Mississippi river.
The Red river is the third-largest tributary of the Mississippi river. This river originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, before making its way through Oklahoma and then Texas, before finally emptying into the Mississippi river. It is estimated to contribute up to 15 percent of the Mississippi river’s water volume.
The Arkansas river is the fourth-largest tributary of the Mississippi river, with a length of 2,340 miles. It originates in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado, before making its way through Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Missouri, before joining up with the Mississippi river in Arkansas. It is estimated to contribute up to 13 percent of the Mississippi river’s water volume.
The White river is the fifth-largest tributary of the Mississippi river. It originates in east-central Arkansas, before making its way through Arkansas, Missouri and then Illinois. It is estimated to contribute up to 8 percent of the Mississippi river’s water volume.
The St. Francis river is the sixth-largest tributary of the Mississippi river. This river originates in southern Missouri before making its way through Arkansas and emptying into the Mississippi river near St. Louis. It is estimated to contribute up to 5 percent of the Mississippi river’s water volume.
The Impact of Tributaries on the Mississippi River
The tributaries of the Mississippi river have a significant impact on the river’s water level and capacity. Without the tributaries, the Mississippi river would have passed much less water and its water level would have been much lower. The tributaries also act as a source of freshwater and are used as a source of drinking water in many areas close to the river.
The tributaries of the Mississippi river are also an important source of food and a habitat for many different kinds of aquatic animals. The tributaries provide a source of nutrients, shelter and protection for these animals, which help in the healthy functioning of the Mississippi river ecosystem.
The tributaries of the Mississippi river help to keep the water temperature of the river within healthy levels. This is due to the cold water from the tributaries mixing with the warmer water in the river, thus helping to keep the water temperature at a healthy level.
The Environment and Tributaries of the Mississippi River
Due to the large amount of water passing through the Mississippi river tributaries each year, it is important to protect the environment backed by these tributaries. This is because the water passing through these tributaries is used as sources of drinking water in such a large area. Therefore, there is a need to ensure that the water flowing through these tributaries is clean and free of contaminants, in order to ensure a safe source of freshwater for the millions of people who rely on the Mississippi river.
Pollution from run-off from agricultural land, mining and factory sites can be detrimental to the tributaries of the Mississippi river. Therefore, there are several regulations in place to ensure that these sources of pollution are kept to a minimum, in order to keep the tributaries healthy and free of contaminants.
In addition to regulations designed to protect the environment, there have been several initiatives in place to restore and clean up some of the tributaries of the Mississippi river. These initiatives have been set up in order to improve the quality of water in the tributaries, so that it can be used as a source of freshwater and a healthy habitat for aquatic animals.
The History of the Mississippi River Tributaries
The tributaries of the Mississippi river have a long history, dating back to thousands of years. In Ancient Egypt, it was believed that the god Hapi was the one who kept the river flooding, which was an essential source of water for the Egyptians. In the Middle Ages, these tributaries were the source of freshwater for many settlers who moved to the area. As the country developed, the tributaries of the Mississippi river became more important for commerce and transportation of goods.
The tributaries of the Mississippi river have also had a vital role for the American Civil War. During this period, the tributaries of the river were strategically used as a means of transportation for troops and supplies. The tributaries of the Mississippi river also played an important role in the industrialization of the Midwest, as they provided the resources and the power needed to fuel the industrial growth of the region.
The Future of the Mississippi River Tributaries
In the future, it is expected that the tributaries of the Mississippi river will remain an important source of water for the region. Climate change is predicted to have a significant impact on these tributaries, as changing rainfall patterns could lead to a decrease in water levels in the tributaries. Therefore, it is important that we take action to conserve and protect these tributaries so that the Mississippi river continues to be a source of freshwater for millions of people in the region.
In addition to the conservation of water, it is also important to reduce the amount of pollution in the tributaries of the Mississippi river. This can be done by better controlling run-off from agricultural land, as well as improving waste management practices in the region. This would help to ensure that the tributaries of the Mississippi river remain free of pollutants and contaminants, so that they can continue to be used as a source of freshwater.
The tributaries of the Mississippi river are not only important sources of water, but they are also an important part of the history and culture of the region. Therefore, it is important that these tributaries continue to be protected, so that they can remain a vital source of water for the region.
