{"id":12537,"date":"2024-03-25T15:30:26","date_gmt":"2024-03-25T14:30:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12537"},"modified":"2024-03-25T15:30:26","modified_gmt":"2024-03-25T14:30:26","slug":"is-the-mississippi-river-near-memphis","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/is-the-mississippi-river-near-memphis\/","title":{"rendered":"Is The Mississippi River Near Memphis"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Memphis, Tennessee is a city situated directly on the Mississippi River.The city’s position at the mouth of the river has made it an important trade and transportation hub of the U.S. since the early 1800s. Many people often associate Memphis with the Mississippi River and wonder if the two are geographically close. The answer is yes,the Mississippi River runs about seven miles south of Memphis.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi River provides a vital link between the northern and southern states within the United States and Canada by providing a pathway for goods and services to be moved up and down the states. For centuries, many cities like Memphis have relied on the Mississippi River for transportation of goods and services. On average, about 1200 vessels move goods and services up and down the river each year. As a direct result, Memphis has gained tremendous economic benefits from being located on the river.<\/p>\n

Though the Mississippi River provides many economic benefits to Memphis, it also brings significant ecological challenges. Flooding along the Mississippi can be devastating to cities that are near the river such as Memphis. In 2011, much of the city flooded resulting in hundreds of millions of dollars in damages. In 2017, the flooding happened again causing even more destruction to the city. As a result, the city is implementing measures to better prepare for future flooding.<\/p>\n

From an environmental standpoint, there are also concerns about the pollutants and chemicals in the Mississippi River that can have a negative impact on the aquatic life in the region. In recent years, there has been an effort to reduce the amount of pollution in the river and to improve water quality. To this end, organizations like the Memphis River Keepers, have been formed to help preserve and maintain the health of the Mississippi River for future generations.<\/p>\n