{"id":12745,"date":"2023-12-25T20:00:12","date_gmt":"2023-12-25T19:00:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12745"},"modified":"2023-12-25T20:00:12","modified_gmt":"2023-12-25T19:00:12","slug":"what-forest-region-is-located-along-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-forest-region-is-located-along-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What Forest Region Is Located Along The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Location and Background of the Mississippi River Forest Region<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River forest region covers a large swath of land in the United States along the Mississippi River, stretching from the Midwest to the Gulf Coast. It’s a vital part of the global distribution of forests and is home to a variety of different species of trees, plants, and animals. The Mississippi River basin is one of the ten most biodiverse regions in the US and, as such, is a major contributor to the US’s overall biodiversity. In terms of its geographic location, the forest’s western border lies just east of the Missouri River, while the forest extends eastwards to the Appalachian Mountains and Gulf Coast. <\/p>\n

The Mississippi River physiographic region is made up of several unique ecosystems, including the wetlands, mixed hardwood forests, bottomland hardwood forests, cypress swamps, floodplains, and river systems. Bottomland hardwood forests are found in the lower reaches of the river and contain some of the most biologically diverse habitats in the world. Cypress swamps are also found here and provide refuge for many species of animals and birds. The forests of the region contain many different species of trees, including oaks, hickories, maples, sweet gum, blackgums, sycamore, and loblolly. <\/p>\n

The region’s wetland habitats include the sloughs, marshes, and bayous along the river’s major tributaries. These habitats are important for providing food and shelter to a wide range of wildlife species. An estimated 3.2 million acres of wetlands are found in the region, which is home to almost 400 species of birds, 70 species of fish, and dozens of other mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. These wetlands are also beneficial for water filtration, which helps protect the region from floods, droughts, and other natural disasters. <\/p>\n

Wildlife Present in the Mississippi River Forest Region<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River region is home to a diverse range of wildlife, including many species of birds and mammals. Common species of birds in the region include herons, eagles, egrets, kingfishers, and waterfowl. Mammals found in the region include white-tailed deer, black bears, coyotes, bobcats, skunks, and opossums. The forest also provides habitat for several endangered or threatened species, such as the ivory-billed woodpecker, red-cockaded woodpecker, piping plover, and black-footed ferret.<\/p>\n