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A wiggly waterway winds its way right down the middle of the United States, dividing the East from the West. The Mississippi River springs to life in northern Minnesota.
It grows stronger as it runs down the length of the country—all the way to the Gulf of Mexico. As it flows, it picks up soil from the fertile farmlands that line its banks. It carries that soil south as sediment. This turns the river brown and gives it its nickname: “Old Muddy.”
The Mississippi is full of surprises. Near its source at Lake Itasca, the river may be only 10 to 20 feet wide—depending on rain. People like to hop across the river on stones, telling friends that they walked across the Mississippi. Traveling downriver, waters are so calm they can lull you to sleep. Just around the bend, though, the current can make even a large boat lean to one side wildly. Submerged trees can tear holes in the bottom of the strongest boat. Sandbars can ground a vessel for days. Ready for an adventure? Join us for a voyage down the mighty Mississippi.
▲ European explorers reached the Mississippi in the sixteenth century. However, the river was home to Native Americans long before that. The Ojibwa (also known as the Chippewa) are credited with naming it. Mississippi is their word for “great river” or “gathering of waters.” Other tribes, including the Chickasaw and the Sioux, also lived along the river and its tributaries.
European traders opened the Mississippi River wilderness to white settlers. They set up trading posts near government forts. Native groups traded the skins of beaver, deer, and raccoon. In return, they received iron kettles, glass beads, and cloth. Millions of dollars in luxurious furs were shipped along the waterway. ▶
The Mississippi and Its Major Tributaries
▲ From its headwaters in Minnesota to its outlet in the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River is about 2,350 miles long. It is the second-longest river in the U.S. Its chief tributary, the Missouri River, is the longest. The Mississippi has some 250 tributaries, including the Ohio, the Arkansas, and the Tennessee Rivers. The Mississippi is one of the busiest commercial waterways in the world. Oceangoing vessels can travel up the river as far as Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Barges and towboats can travel as far north as Minneapolis, Minnesota.
