{"id":10298,"date":"2023-12-06T03:50:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T02:50:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=10298"},"modified":"2023-12-06T03:50:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T02:50:15","slug":"how-many-subdelta-systems-does-the-mississippi-river-have","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-many-subdelta-systems-does-the-mississippi-river-have\/","title":{"rendered":"How Many Subdelta Systems Does The Mississippi River Have"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River is one of the largest rivers by discharge volume in the United States and the world. Many people know that it is roughly 2,300 miles long, but fewer are aware of the multitude of smaller systems that it encompasses. Subdeltas, or smaller versions of the Mississippi River, branch off from the main artery at different locations and feed into the Mississippi, often creating a complex web. Here, we answer the question, how many subdelta systems does the Mississippi River have?<\/p>\n

In order to answer this question, it is important to understand what a delta is and what the differences are between an ordinary river and a subdelta. Deltas are created when rivers reach the ocean or other large body of water and the river’s current begins to slow down. Sediment builds up due to the lower water speed, creating a triangle-like shape on the body of water’s surface. When this happens with a larger river, the triangle-shaped delta is called the primary delta. Smaller rivers that flow into the larger river, such as the Mississippi, create secondary deltas, or subdeltas.<\/p>\n

Experts estimate that currently the Mississippi River has between 8 and 10 major subdelta systems which flow into the main river. These systems are located throughout the length of the river, ranging from the state of Pennsylvania in the North, to all the way down in the state of Louisiana at the southern tip of the river. Within each state that the river passes, there are often several smaller subdelta systems. These are formed when larger bodies of water such as lakes, estuaries, and bays empty into the Mississippi and form a tributary that feeds into the main body of the river.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi Delta, located in Louisiana and the Mississippi-Alabama border, is the largest and arguably the most important subdelta system. It contains hundreds of smaller lakes, bays, and streams that flow into the main Mississippi. The Delta is also home to numerous species of birds and fish, many of which are endangered, so it is important to researchers and conservationists that it remains healthy and vibrant.<\/p>\n