{"id":10801,"date":"2023-12-06T02:25:16","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T01:25:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=10801"},"modified":"2023-12-06T02:25:16","modified_gmt":"2023-12-06T01:25:16","slug":"de-soto-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/de-soto-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"De Soto Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River and De Soto<\/b><\/p>\n

The mighty Mississippi River is one of the largest and most important rivers in North America. It is more than 2,300 miles long and stretches from its source near the headwaters of Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The part of the Mississippi that reaches its delta in Louisiana is known as the Lower Mississippi and is rich in wildlife and resources. It is a major part of the rich natural and cultural heritage of the United States and provides food, energy, and recreation as well as a rich cultural and historical connection to the past.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi River has had a long and storied history of human activity along its banks. It is one of the original routes used by Native Americans and early European settlers for transportation and trading. One of the most famous of these early explorers was Hernando de Soto, who traveled along the Mississippi River in search of a route to the Pacific. His story and the story of the river are intertwined and have been intertwined throughout history.<\/p>\n

De Soto first landed in Florida in 1539, where he took possession of the area in the name of Spain. He then led an expedition of more than 1,000 men to explore the continent, traveling through Georgia and Alabama before reaching the Mississippi River in 1541. His expedition continued up the river, exploring and claiming land for Spain as they went. In 1542, the expedition arrived at the mouth of the Arkansas River, where de Soto died soon after.<\/p>\n