{"id":10901,"date":"2024-01-06T22:25:25","date_gmt":"2024-01-06T21:25:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=10901"},"modified":"2024-01-06T22:25:25","modified_gmt":"2024-01-06T21:25:25","slug":"how-long-is-the-mississippi-river-miles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-long-is-the-mississippi-river-miles\/","title":{"rendered":"How Long Is The Mississippi River Miles"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The mighty Mississippi River is North America’s most iconic waterway. Stretching from the headwater in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico, it serves as the demarcation line between several US states. But when it comes to its length, exactly how long is the Mississippi River?<\/p>\n

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the Mississippi River covers a total of 2,340 miles in length. It departs from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, at an altitude of 1,475 feet above sea level. After dropping around 60 feet, the river enters the state of Louisiana, reaching the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans, Louisiana, where the river terminates at sea level.<\/p>\n

This expansive waterway is said to be the fourth longest in the world, following the River Nile (4,320 miles), the Amazon River (4,090 miles), and the Yangtze River (3,900 miles). But its importance to the United States is far more significant than its length. The Mississippi River has served as an essential artery for US commerce for centuries, helping to shape the nation’s history.<\/p>\n

Throughout its journey through the heart of the Midwest and the South, the Mississippi River provides the economic foundation for a number of cities, with its network of rivers, tributaries and commerce. This contribution to the US GDP has been estimated to be upwards of $25 billion.<\/p>\n