{"id":12704,"date":"2023-10-14T04:40:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-14T03:40:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12704"},"modified":"2023-10-14T04:40:09","modified_gmt":"2023-10-14T03:40:09","slug":"what-state-is-mississippi-river-in","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-state-is-mississippi-river-in\/","title":{"rendered":"What State Is Mississippi River In"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Geography and Ecology of the Mississippi River<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River is the second-longest river in the United States, stretching from Minnesota to Louisiana and into the Gulf of Mexico. It is the fourth-longest river system in the world and the tenth-largest river in the world by discharge. The river has played an important role in the history, culture, and economy of the US, beginning with the first human settlers who came to its deep valleys, through the countless boats and barges that have floated down its currents ever since.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi begins on Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and then winds south towards Louisiana and the Gulf of Mexico. Along the way, it is joined by many branches including the Missouri, Ohio, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Red Rivers. In total, the Mississippi is made up of more than 2000 miles of tributaries, making it the fourth-longest river system in the world.<\/p>\n

The Mississippi also has a variety of geographical features, such as levees, islands, meanders, oxbow lakes, and wetlands. The levees were built to protect the river embankments from flooding, while the wetlands provide habitats for a variety of wildlife. These are of particular importance in the Mississippi Delta, where more than 60 percent of the aquatic vegetation is made up of swamp cypress and gum trees.<\/p>\n

The biodiversity of the Mississippi is also supported by plantations, especially in the Delta region, where hundreds of species of trees, plants, and birds make their homes. The Delta region is also home to a vast array of fish, including bass, catfish, and carp, as well as crawfish, frogs, and turtles.<\/p>\n