{"id":10728,"date":"2023-12-12T09:35:15","date_gmt":"2023-12-12T08:35:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=10728"},"modified":"2023-12-12T09:35:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-12T08:35:15","slug":"how-long-is-the-mississippi-river-right-now","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-long-is-the-mississippi-river-right-now\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Is The Mississippi River Right Now"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River is the fourth longest river in the world and the second longest in North America. Spanning an incredible 2,350 miles, the river begins in Lake Itasca, Minnesota and ends as an outlet for the Gulf of Mexico. The importance of this river to both Americans and residents of the states surrounding it cannot be overstated. The Mississippi River is an integral part of many people’s history and livelihood.<\/p>\n

The length of the Mississippi River changes depending on the rainfall, with variation from year-to-year. On average the length of the river is roughly 2350 miles. In some years, the length of the Mississippi River is likely to exceed that amount by miles. However, in drier years, the length may not even reach 2000 miles. This variance in the length of the Mississippi River has been observed since the very beginning of river exploration.<\/p>\n

In recent years, the health of the Mississippi River has been in question. Studies have been conducted that show an increase in population in areas that surround and rely on the Mississippi River have caused a decrease in its overall health. Changes in water quality has been observed ranging from increased levels of nitrogen and phosphorous, to sediment runoffs from construction sites. This has caused an imbalance in some animal and plant populations, leading to a decrease in the Mississippi River’s productivity.<\/p>\n

Another factor that can influence the length of the Mississippi River is natural disasters or drastic shifts in the environment. Severe weather, including floods and droughts, can influence the length of the river. Issues such as rapid erosion or changes in sedimentation can also impact the length of the Mississippi River by adding or removing land from the riverbed.<\/p>\n