{"id":12881,"date":"2024-02-20T02:15:24","date_gmt":"2024-02-20T01:15:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=12881"},"modified":"2024-02-20T02:15:24","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T01:15:24","slug":"what-body-of-water-feeds-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-body-of-water-feeds-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What Body Of Water Feeds The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River has long been known to be one of the most important rivers in the United States, providing water, food and transportation to hundreds of cities and towns along the way. What many people do not know, however, is that the Mississippi River is actually fed by a much larger body of water: the Missouri River. <\/p>\n

The Missouri River, aptly named after the Native American tribe of Missouri Indians who lived along the river for hundreds of years, is the longest river in North America and the second-longest river in the United States. It rises in the Rocky Mountains of western Montana, and winds its way through North America before flowing into the Mississippi River at St. Louis, Missouri, which marks its mouth. From here, the Missouri River provides a major source of water for the Mississippi River and is a key contributor to the river’s volume and aquatic ecosystem. <\/p>\n

The Missouri River has a history as long and varied as the numerous tribes who lived in the area. The earliest people who lived in the Missouri River Valley were part of the Omaha, Oto and Missouri tribes in the late 1700s, who survived by fishing and hunting the river’s plentiful sea life. Unfortunately, the introduction of guns and horses from European traders led to an increase in warfare between these and other Plains Indian tribes, which continued until the mid-1800s. <\/p>\n

In addition to its cultural and historical significance, the Missouri River serves an important ecological role in the ecosystem of the Mississippi River Delta. The increased volume of water provided by the Missouri River helps to keep the Mississippi River flowing at full capacity and provides a nourishing environmental habitat for fish, wildlife and aquatic plants, which are important components of the river system’s overall health. The large volume of nutrient-rich sediments and organic matter also provides an ideal environment for the growth and reproduction of aquatic species. <\/p>\n