{"id":9233,"date":"2024-03-06T04:05:25","date_gmt":"2024-03-06T03:05:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/?p=9233"},"modified":"2024-03-06T04:05:25","modified_gmt":"2024-03-06T03:05:25","slug":"how-far-up-the-mississippi-river-have-sharks-been-found","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.aboutriver.com\/how-far-up-the-mississippi-river-have-sharks-been-found\/","title":{"rendered":"How Far Up The Mississippi River Have Sharks Been Found"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Reports of sharks in the Mississippi River date back to the 19th century and sightings have continued over the years. People in both Minnesota and Wisconsin have long reported seeing strange, long-bodied fish that could possibly be sharks. Despite the anecdotal evidence, many people are skeptical about the claim that sharks inhabit the mighty body of water. But is it really possible for a shark to survive in the Mississippi River?<\/p>\n

The Mississippi River spans for 2,320 miles and is known for its unique waterway populated by freshwater fish, turtles, and a wide variety of birds. But could this ecosystem also allow some species of sharks to live in the river? And more importantly, how could they get so far inland at all?<\/p>\n

Experts say that the answer lies in the history of the Mississippi River. During the last Ice Age, the river would have been much larger and a great deal of salt water would have been pushed into the river. This influx of salt water would have been enough to allow different species of sharks to make their way up the river, surviving in its deeper sections. This could explain why some people have reported seeing what appear to be sharks in the river.<\/p>\n

But even if it is possible for some species of sharks to have made their way up the river in the past, the main question is whether these fish have managed to survive in their new environment. Sharks in fresh water usually have to migrate out of the river when their salinity levels drop too low, which is something that is happening more often in the Mississippi River as the water temperature rises year on year. This lack of migration could mean that some of these fish are unable to survive and are dying out along the river.<\/p>\n