{"id":12282,"date":"2024-03-21T17:26:03","date_gmt":"2024-03-21T16:26:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12282"},"modified":"2024-03-21T17:26:03","modified_gmt":"2024-03-21T16:26:03","slug":"what-states-does-the-mississippi-river-touch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-states-does-the-mississippi-river-touch\/","title":{"rendered":"What States Does The Mississippi River Touch"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n

Overview<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is one of the major rivers in North America, traveling over 2,000 miles through many states in the U.S. The Mississippi River touches 10 states in total, making it the second largest river system of the United States after the Missouri River.
\nFrom beginning to end, the Mississippi River runs from the headwaters in Minnesota to the mouth in Louisiana. Along the way, the river touches or flows through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.<\/p>\n

Behind The Statistics<\/h2>\n

The longest tributary of the river is the Minnesota River, which begins in Big Stone Lake near the U.S.-Canadian border, and joins the Mississippi at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis. The next longest tributary is the Ohio River, beginning at the mouth of the Tennessee River near Paducah, Kentucky, and joining the Mississippi just above Cairo, Illinois.
\nFrom Cairo, the river winds through states like Missouri, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Along its course, the Mississippi River forms the boundaries of the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, Missouri, and Kentucky.<\/p>\n

Geological Component<\/h2>\n

The river is broad and deep, measuring close to one mile in width in some places. Its water levels can be affected by weather, such as heavy rains and dry spells, as well as natural forces such as earthquakes. The river’s bed is largely sedimentary in nature, made up of deposits from flooding and erosion.<\/p>\n

Significance In Culture<\/h2>\n

In addition to its role in transportation and shipping, the Mississippi River has played an important role in American culture and literature. Mark Twain’s novel, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, for example, is set along the Mississippi, and the river has been the backdrop for numerous other works of literature. Its ports have been the gateway for many immigrants and refugees, and the river continues to be a popular tourist destination.<\/p>\n

Environmental Effects<\/h2>\n