{"id":13010,"date":"2023-11-18T14:15:12","date_gmt":"2023-11-18T13:15:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13010"},"modified":"2023-11-18T14:15:12","modified_gmt":"2023-11-18T13:15:12","slug":"where-is-source-of-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/where-is-source-of-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Is Source Of Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The source of the Mississippi River is a controversial topic among geographers and scientists. The generally accepted source of the Mississippi River is Lake Itasca, located several hundred miles north of the actual river in Minnesota. <\/p>\n

The Mississippi River is made up of thousands of tributaries that come together to form the mighty Mississippi. It is the largest river system in the United States, and its headwaters are located in the northern states, where numerous smaller rivers and streams contribute to the main waterway. <\/p>\n

The exact source has been disputed for centuries and some geographers have argued that the source should be considered either the headwaters of the Missouri River or the Rainy River in Northern Minnesota – both of which feed into the Mississippi River. <\/p>\n

However, the US Geological Survey and the US Army Corps of Engineers both recognize Lake Itasca, located in Northern Minnesota, as being the official source of the Mississippi River. The lake is a very small body of water located in the headwaters of the Mississippi, and is just over two miles long and a few hundred feet deep. <\/p>\n