{"id":13907,"date":"2024-01-04T16:15:07","date_gmt":"2024-01-04T15:15:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=13907"},"modified":"2024-01-04T16:15:07","modified_gmt":"2024-01-04T15:15:07","slug":"what-is-the-mississippi-river-and-the-appalachian-mountains-called","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/what-is-the-mississippi-river-and-the-appalachian-mountains-called\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is The Mississippi River And The Appalachian Mountains Called"},"content":{"rendered":"
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What is the Mississippi River and the Appalachian Mountains Called?<\/h2>\n

The Mississippi River and the Appalachian Mountains are two of the most iconic natural landmarks in North America. The Mississippi is the fourth-longest river in the world and is often considered the dividing line between the eastern and western halves of the continent. The majestic Appalachian Mountains form the backbone for the Appalachian Trail, one of the oldest and most famous of the United States’ long-distance hiking trails. Together, these two natural wonders are often hailed as some of the defining characteristics of the American landscape, both from a geological and cultural standpoint.<\/p>\n

From both a geological and historical standpoint, the Mississippi and the Appalachian Mountains have been integral in the development of the United States. The Mississippi is a major river system that flows from Minnesota, down through Arkansas and Louisiana before emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. As such, it provided an important trade route and transportation avenue for settlers heading west and south in the early days of the nation’s settlement and development. The Appalachian Mountains created a formidable physical barrier, leading early settlers and immigrants to develop settlements in the region’s lowlands and valleys. So much so that European settlers often referred to the Appalachian Mountains as the “Backbone of the Americas”.<\/p>\n

In terms of their official name, the Mississippi River is officially referred to as the “Mississippi”, and the Appalachian Mountains are officially referred to as “Appalachia” or the “Appalachian Region”. Although these two natural wonders are often categorized and referred to as singular entities, they are, in fact, composed of a number of smaller mountain ranges and tributary rivers. For example, the Appalachian Mountains span 1,500 miles and contain more than 5,000 individual mountain peaks, while the Mississippi river contains a plethora of tributaries, including the Yazoo, the Ohio, and the Arkansas rivers.<\/p>\n

From an ecological standpoint, the Mississippi River and the Appalachian Mountains provide a number of important habitat and migration corridors for a variety of animal and plant species, and are home to an array of endangered animal and plant species. The vast majority of the Mississippi River basin is classified as wetlands, supporting a vast array of aquatic life and providing vital flood control and water purification systems. The Appalachian Mountains are home to some of the most diverse ecosystems in North America, including wetlands, deciduous forest, and even alpine tundra in some of the higher elevations. Both of these two iconic natural features boast numerous annual visitors, making them popular tourist destinations for visitors and locals alike.<\/p>\n

The Impact of the Mississippi River and the Appalachian Mountains on North America and the World<\/h2>\n