{"id":13191,"date":"2023-10-17T20:15:09","date_gmt":"2023-10-17T19:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13191"},"modified":"2023-10-17T20:15:09","modified_gmt":"2023-10-17T19:15:09","slug":"where-does-the-missouri-river-join-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/where-does-the-missouri-river-join-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Where Does The Missouri River Join The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Missouri River is the longest tributary of the Mississippi, adding over 2,300 miles of navigable waters to its already vast network. It begins in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and winds through five states before meandering into the mighty Mississippi near St. Louis. Along the way, the Missouri passes through lakes, prairies, and plains, eventually becoming an integral part of the formidable Mississippi River system.<\/p>\n

The Missouri River’s importance for transportation, recreation, and its impact on the environment cannot be understated. It has been used for centuries as a conduit for goods and goods and services among communities. Boating, fishing, and other recreational activities along the river’s shoreline attract outdoorsmen from across the country. Even its wide, sweeping boundaries help to stabilize the climate throughout the watershed and supply clean water to millions of people.<\/p>\n

The Missouri River’s confluence with the Mississippi is unique in both form and function. Typically, a confluences occur when two rivers meet at a right angle, with each river passing on either side of an obstruction in the water. However, this is not the case with the Missouri and the Mississippi. Instead, their meeting is a “step confluence,” where the stepped-down Missouri slides into the Mississippi in a gentle arc along the Missouri’s oxbow banks.<\/p>\n

Not only is the Missouri River joining the Mississippi one of the most visually captivating sights in the river system, it is also a place of great significance for aquatic life. It’s where the waters of both rivers mix together, creating a rich source of food and habitat for countless fish, birds, and other wildlife. It’s an important breeding area for fish and its wetlands provide important feeding and resting areas for thousands of migrating birds.<\/p>\n