{"id":13272,"date":"2024-02-18T18:25:23","date_gmt":"2024-02-18T17:25:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13272"},"modified":"2024-02-18T18:25:23","modified_gmt":"2024-02-18T17:25:23","slug":"what-rivers-are-connected-to-the-mississippi-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-rivers-are-connected-to-the-mississippi-river\/","title":{"rendered":"What Rivers Are Connected To The Mississippi River"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The Mississippi River is one of the most important water systems in the United States. Connected to many important rivers and tributaries, including the Ohio, Missouri, and Arkansas Rivers, the Mississippi River provides an intricate waterway system throughout the region. From the trifecta of streams that feed into this waterway to the many dams that divert the water to different reservoirs and dams, this river system provides a plethora of services and economic benefits. As the most important tributary of the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River has a substantial impact on the water quality, ecosystems, and livelihoods of millions of people living and working alongside the river.<\/p>\n

Beginning at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, the Mississippi River runs for 2,340 miles, down the Minnesota River, through Iowa and Wisconsin, to St. Louis, the major city on the River. It then flows south to Memphis, Tennessee and on to Vicksburg, Mississippi. At Vicksburg, the mouth of the world’s fourth-largest river enters the Gulf of Mexico.<\/p>\n

The Ohio River is one of the most significant resources connected to the Mississippi River. This 981-mile long river is the largest tributary of the Mississippi River. Originating in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the Ohio River passes through Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, and Illinois before joining the Mississippi near Cairo, Illinois. By the time the 1.5 million cubic feet per second of water reaches Cairo, it has become the second-largest watershed in the United States.<\/p>\n

The Missouri River is a major tributary to the Mississippi River. It is considered to be the longest and largest tributary to the Mississippi, at more than 2,340 miles long. It originates west of the continental divide, in the mountain ranges of Montana and Wyoming, and eventually creates a confluence with the Mississippi at St. Louis, Missouri. Representing nearly 20% of the total volume of the Mississippi, the Missouri is an important resource for upland farmers, anglers, and residents along the way.<\/p>\n