{"id":12271,"date":"2023-10-26T19:05:26","date_gmt":"2023-10-26T18:05:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12271"},"modified":"2023-10-26T19:05:26","modified_gmt":"2023-10-26T18:05:26","slug":"what-state-does-the-mississippi-river-starts-and-ends","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-state-does-the-mississippi-river-starts-and-ends\/","title":{"rendered":"What State Does The Mississippi River Starts And Ends"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Mississippi river: Traversing USA’s History<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is at the centre of the USA’s geography, culture and economy. It has provided transport and sustenance for thousands of years and continues to support local cultures and businesses today. It runs nearly 3,770km across the United States and is the fourth longest river in the world.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi River begins as a small trickle in Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, only to become a turbulent waterway of fathomless proportions by the time it reaches the Gulf of Mexico. The river passes through or touches 10 states, including Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Missouri.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi is not just any river. It is a historical powerhouse, playing a major role in the development of the the United States. It has been witness to moments that define American history, from the Louisiana Purchase and the Civil War to the great migration north and 20th-century industrialization, with major ports like New Orleans, Paducah and Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi has also been witness to diverse cultures. Native Americans, African Americans and Europeans, who converged on its shores and allowed the river to shape their destinies. It is a source of livelihood and a way of life, sustaining the regional cultures and ecosystems of the United States. It is no wonder that Mark Twain referred to it as one of the greatest Natural Wonders of the World.<\/p>\n