{"id":12412,"date":"2024-01-16T17:30:18","date_gmt":"2024-01-16T16:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12412"},"modified":"2024-01-16T17:30:18","modified_gmt":"2024-01-16T16:30:18","slug":"what-states-touch-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-states-touch-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What States Touch The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Overview<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is one of the most important waterways in the United States. Spanning over 2, 320 miles in length, the Mississippi River flows through 10 states, forming part of the borders of each one. From south to north the 10 states that touch the Mississippi River are Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. Each state has different laws and regulations regarding the river use, taxation and environment.<\/p>\n

Louisiana<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca in Minnesota, and flows south to the Mississippi River Delta in Louisiana. Louisiana is the only state in which the river forms its majority of the Western border and most of the southern border. The main tributaries of the Mississippi River in Louisiana are the Red River, the Atchafalaya River, and the Ouachita River. The Mississippi River in Louisiana is host to a rich aquatic life and serves as a major roadway for ships and barges.<\/p>\n

Mississippi<\/h2>\n

In Mississippi, two thirds of the state’s western border is composed of the Mississippi River. Because of the vital importance of the river to the state’s economy, extensive environmental regulations have been put in place in order to protect the river’s fish life, water quality and other aquatic life. Despite the precautions, the river still sustains the states shipping industry, and water-related recreation sites attract to visitors year round.<\/p>\n

Tennessee<\/h2>\n

The section of the river that flows through Tennessee is known as the Mississippi embayment. It is the fourth longest in the United States, covering an area of 20,000 square miles. The main tributaries that flow into the Mississippi in Tennessee are the Obion River, the Tennessee River, the Wolf River and the Cumberland River. The major dam on the Mississippi in Tennessee is the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway that links Pickwick Lake to the Gulf Coast.<\/p>\n

Arkansas<\/h2>\n