Mississippi River - Citizendia

For the river in Canada, see Mississippi River (Ontario). The Mississippi River is a tributary of the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario in Canada

Coordinates: 29°09′13″N 89°15′03″W / 29.15361, -89.25083

Mississippi River
River
Mississippi River in New Orleans, Louisiana (2006)
Country	United States
States	Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana

Tributaries
- left	Ohio River
- right	Missouri River, Arkansas River
Cities	Minneapolis and St. Paul, MN, St. Louis, MO, Memphis, TN, Baton Rouge, LA, New Orleans, LA


Source	Lake Itasca
- location	Itasca State Park, Clearwater County, MN
- elevation	1,475 ft (450 m)
- coordinates	47°14′23″N 95°12′27″W / 47.23972, -95.2075
Mouth	Gulf Of Mexico
- location	Pilottown, Plaquemines Parish, LA
- elevation	0 ft (0 m)
- coordinates	29°09′13″N 89°15′03″W / 29.15361, -89.25083

Length	2,320 mi (3,734 km)
Basin	1,151,000 sq mi (2,981,076 km²)
Discharge	for Baton Rouge, LA
- average	450,000 cu ft/s (12,743 m³/s) ^[1]

Map of the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of 2,320 mi (3,734 km) from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in The Gulf of Mexico. A geographic coordinate system enables every location on the Earth to be specified in three coordinates using mainly a spherical coordinate system. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas River is a major Tributary of the Mississippi River. Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. Baton Rouge (French Bâton-Rouge ˌbætən ˈruːdʒ in English, and in French) is the capital city of Louisiana. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Lake Itasca is a small Glacial lake, approximately 18 square miles (4 Itasca State Park is a state park in Minnesota, United States, and contains the Headwaters Clearwater County is a County located in the US state of Minnesota. Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world Pilottown (or Pilot Town is a small town in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. Plaquemines Parish ( Cajun French: Paroisse Plaquemine) is the parish with the most combined land and water area in the U The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America A foot (plural feet or foot; symbol or abbreviation ft or sometimes &prime – the prime symbol) is a non-SI unit The metre or meter is a unit of Length. It is the basic unit of Length in the Metric system and in the International A mile is a unit of Length, usually used to measure Distance, in a number of different systems including Imperial units United States The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand The square mile is an imperial and US unit of Area equal the area of a square of one statute mile. Square Kilometre ( US spelling square kilometer) symbol km2, is a decimal multiple of the SI unit of Baton Rouge (French Bâton-Rouge ˌbætən ˈruːdʒ in English, and in French) is the capital city of Louisiana. The cubic foot is an imperial and US customary (non- metric) unit of Volume, used in the United States Canada and the United Kingdom The second ( SI symbol s) sometimes abbreviated sec, is the name of a unit of Time, and is the International System of Units CM3 redirects here If you were looking for the 3rd game in the Cooking Mama series abbreviated as CM3 see here. The second ( SI symbol s) sometimes abbreviated sec, is the name of a unit of Time, and is the International System of Units "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand Lake Itasca is a small Glacial lake, approximately 18 square miles (4 Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world The longest river, a Mississippi tributary, is the Missouri River measuring 2,341 mi (3,767 km).

The Mississippi River is part of the Jefferson-Missouri-Mississippi river system, which is the largest river system in North America and among the largest in the world: by length (3,900 mi or 6,275 km), it is the fourth longest, and by average discharge of 572,000 cu ft/s (16,200 m³/s), it is the tenth largest. The Jefferson River is a Tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long in the U This is a list of the longest rivers on Earth. It includes river systems over 1000 kilometers A cubic foot per second (also cfs, cu ft/s, cusec and ft³/s) is an Imperial unit / U A cubic metre per second ( m3·s&minus1, m3/s, cumecs or cubic meter per second in American English

The name Mississippi is derived from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi ("Great River") or gichi-ziibi ("Big River") at its headwaters.

1 Geography
2 Nomenclature
3 Watershed
4 History
5 Recreation
- 5.1 Water Skiing
- 5.2 National Parks
6 Navigation history
7 Arts and culture
8 See also
9 References
10 Further reading
11 External links

Geography

Confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers at Cairo, IL (2006)

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in the United States, with a length of 2,320 mi (3,734 km) from its source in Lake Itasca in Minnesota to its mouth in The Gulf of Mexico. Cairo is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States. "Riverine" redirects here For the use of that term in Maritime geography, see there The United States of America —commonly referred to as the The kilometre ( American spelling: kilometer) symbol km is a unit of Length in the Metric system, equal to one thousand Lake Itasca is a small Glacial lake, approximately 18 square miles (4 Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world The Missouri River, measuring 2,341 mi (3,767 km), is the longest river in the United States and a Mississippi River tributary. The Missouri River flows from the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin to the Mississippi River. The Jefferson River is a Tributary of the Missouri River, approximately long in the U The Madison River is a headwater Tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 183 miles (295 km long in Wyoming and Montana. The Gallatin River is a tributary of the Missouri River, approximately 120 mi (193 km long in the U Taken together, the Jefferson, the Missouri, and the Mississippi form the longest river system in North America.

If measured from the source of the Jefferson at Brower's Spring, to the Gulf of Mexico, the length of the Mississippi-Missouri-Jefferson combination is approximately 3,900 mi (6,275 km), making the combination the 4th longest river in the world, and by average discharge of 572,000 cu ft/s (16,200 m³/s), it is the tenth largest. Brower's Spring is a spring in the Centennial Mountains of Montana that is believed to be the ultimate headwaters of the Missouri River. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world This is a list of the longest rivers on Earth. It includes river systems over 1000 kilometers A cubic foot per second (also cfs, cu ft/s, cusec and ft³/s) is an Imperial unit / U A cubic metre per second ( m3·s&minus1, m3/s, cumecs or cubic meter per second in American English The uppermost 207 mi (333 km) of this combined river are called the Jefferson, the lowest 1,352 mi (2,175 km) are part of the Mississippi, and the intervening 2,341 mi (3,767 km) are called the Missouri.

The Arkansas River is the second longest tributray of the Mississippi River. The Arkansas River is a major Tributary of the Mississippi River. Measured by water volume, the largest of all Mississippi tributaries is the Ohio River. The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River.

The widest point of the Mississippi River is Lake Onalaska, near La Crosse, Wisconsin, where the river is over 4 mi (6. La Crosse is a city in and the County seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. 4 km) wide. Since Lake Onalaska was created by Lock and Dam No. 7, Lake Pepin is historically the widest natural spot at more than two miles (3 km) wide. Lock and Dam No 7 is a lock and Dam located near Onalaska Wisconsin on the Upper Mississippi River. Lake Pepin is a naturally occurring Lake, and the widest naturally occurring part of the Mississippi River. ^[2] These areas however are reservoir rather than free flowing river. In areas where the Mississippi is a real river, it exceeds one mile (1. 6 km) in width in several places in its lower course.

The Mississippi River runs through 10 states and was used to define portions of these states' borders. The middle of the riverbed at the time the borders were established was the line to define the borders between states. ^[3]^[4] The river has since shifted, but the state borders of Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, and Mississippi have not changed; they still follow the former bed of the Mississippi River as of their establishment. Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States The State of Iowa ( is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States of America. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union. Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee The Commonwealth of Kentucky ( is a state located in the East Central United States of America. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Mississippi ( is a state located in the Deep South of the United States

The river is divided into the upper Mississippi, from its source south to the Ohio River, and the lower Mississippi, from the Ohio to its mouth near New Orleans, Louisiana. WikipediaCiting sources --> See also Mississippi River The Upper Mississippi The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. WikipediaFootnotes --> See also Mississippi River The Lower Mississippi River is the portion of the New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana

Upper Mississippi River

See also: Upper Mississippi River

The source of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca (2004)

The upper Mississippi is divided into three sections: the headwaters, from the source to Saint Anthony Falls, a series of man-made lakes between Minneapolis and St. Louis, Missouri, and the middle Mississippi, a relatively free-flowing river downstream of the confluence with the Missouri River at St. WikipediaCiting sources --> See also Mississippi River The Upper Mississippi Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis Minnesota, was the only natural major Waterfall on the Louis.

Source

The source of the Mississippi River is Lake Itasca, 1,475 ft (450 m) above sea level in Itasca State Park located in Clearwater County, Minnesota. Itasca State Park is a state park in Minnesota, United States, and contains the Headwaters Clearwater County is a County located in the US state of Minnesota. The name "Itasca" is a combination of the last four letters of the Latin word for truth (veritas) and the the first two letters of the Latin word for head (caput).

The uppermost lock and dam on the Mississippi River is the Upper St. Anthony Falls Lock and Dam in Minneapolis, MN. Above the dam, the river's elevation is 799 feet. Below the dam, the river's elevation is 750 feet. This 49 foot drop is the largest of all the Mississippi River lock and dams. The origin of the dramatic drop is a waterfall preserved adjacent to the lock under an apron of cement. St. Anthony Falls is the only true waterfall on the entire Mississippi River. Saint Anthony Falls, or the Falls of Saint Anthony, located northeast of downtown Minneapolis Minnesota, was the only natural major Waterfall on the The water elevation continues to drop steeply as it passes through the gorge carved by the waterfall. By the time the river reaches St. Paul, below Lock and Dam #1, it has dropped more than half its original elevation and is 687 feet above sea level. From St. Paul, MN to the Gulf of Mexico the river elevation falls much more slowly and is controlled and managed as series of pools created by locks and dams. ^[5]

Tributaries

The Mississippi is joined by the Minnesota River in the Twin Cities, the Wisconsin River in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, the St. The Minnesota River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles (534 km long in the U The Wisconsin River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River in the U Wisconsin ( or wɪˈskɑnsɨn (French Ouisconsin) is one of the fifty United States of America, located in the north central part of the United States Croix River, (Wisconsin), the Des Moines River in Keokuk, Iowa, the Illinois River and the Missouri River near St. Louis, Missouri, and by the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois. The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately 525 miles (845 km long to its farther headwaters in the upper Midwestern United Keokuk (ˈkiəˌkʌk is a city in the southeastern part of the U The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 273 miles (439 km long in the U The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. Cairo is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States.

Lower Mississippi River

See also: Mississippi River Delta

Major sub-tributaries include the Tennessee River (a tributary of the Ohio River) and the Platte River (a tributary of the Missouri River). The Mississippi River Delta is the modern area of land (the River delta) built up by Alluvium deposited by the Mississippi River as it slows The Tennessee River is the largest tributary of the Ohio River. The Platte River is an approximately 310 mi (499 km long river in the Western United States. The Arkansas River joins the Mississippi in the state of Arkansas. The Arkansas River is a major Tributary of the Mississippi River. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. The Atchafalaya River in Louisiana is a major distributary of the Mississippi. The Atchafalaya River is a Distributary of the Mississippi and Red rivers approximately 170 miles (270 km long in south central Louisiana The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America A distributary, or a distributary channel, is a Stream that branches off and flows away from a main stream channel

Cities along the river

The cities below have either historic significance or cultural lore connecting them to the Mississippi River. They are ordered from the beginning of the river to its end.

Community of boathouses on the Mississippi River in Winona, MN (2006)

In Minnesota, the Mississippi River runs through the Twin Cities (2007)

The Mississippi River just north of St. Winona is a city in and the County seat of Winona County, Minnesota, United States. Louis (2005)

Bridge crossings

See also: List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River and List of crossings of the Lower Mississippi River

The first bridge across the Mississippi River was built in 1855. Bemidji (bəˈmɪdʒiː is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. Little Falls is a city in Morrison County, Minnesota, United States, near the geographic center of the state St Cloud (ˌseɪntˈklaʊd is a city in the US state of Minnesota and the largest population center in the state's central region Saint Paul ( abbreviated St Paul) is the capital and second most populous city in the U Winona is a city in and the County seat of Winona County, Minnesota, United States. La Crosse is a city in and the County seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States. Dubuque is a city in the US State of Iowa, located along the Mississippi River. Bettendorf is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 32445 at the 2008 census estimate Davenport is a City along the Mississippi River in the American state of Iowa. Rock Island is a City in and the County seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. Moline (moˈliːn is a city located in Rock Island County Illinois, United States, with an estimated population of 43016 in 2007 Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. Burlington is a city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a City in and one of the County seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States There is also a Nauvoo Alabama, and a Nauvoo Pennsylvania Nauvoo ( is a small city in Hancock County, Illinois Keokuk (ˈkiəˌkʌk is a city in the southeastern part of the U Quincy Illinois, known as the " Gem City " is a city on the Mississippi River in Adams County, Illinois, United States Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the US state of Missouri. Ste Genevieve, sometimes known as Ste Geneviève, is a city in Ste Cairo is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States. New Madrid (nuːˈmædrɪd is a city in New Madrid County, Missouri, 42 miles (68 km south by west of Cairo Illinois, on the Mississippi River Reverie is an unincorporated community in Tipton County, Tennessee, United States. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. Tunica is a town in Tunica County, Mississippi, United States, located near the Mississippi River. Helena-West Helena is the County seat of and the largest city within Phillips County, Arkansas. Greenville is a city in Washington County, Mississippi, United States. Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. Natchez is the county seat of and the largest and only incorporated city within Adams County, Mississippi, United States. Baton Rouge (French Bâton-Rouge ˌbætən ˈruːdʒ in English, and in French) is the capital city of Louisiana. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Pilottown (or Pilot Town is a small town in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana. La Balize Louisiana, was the first French settlement near the mouth of the Mississippi River in what became Plaquemines Parish. This is a list of all current and notable former Bridges or other crossings of the Upper Mississippi River which begins at the Mississippi River's source and extends This is a list of Bridges and other crossings of the Mississippi River from the Ohio River downstream to the Gulf of Mexico. It spanned the river in Minneapolis, Minnesota where the current Hennepin Avenue Bridge is located. The Hennepin Avenue Bridge is the structure that carries Hennepin County State Aid Highway 52 Hennepin Avenue, across the Mississippi River in Minneapolis Minnesota ^[6] The first railroad bridge across the Mississippi was built in 1856. It spanned the river between Arsenal Island at Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa. The Rock Island Arsenal comprises 946 acres (38 km² located on Arsenal Island in the Mississippi River between Davenport Iowa and Rock Island Rock Island is a City in and the County seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. Davenport is a City along the Mississippi River in the American state of Iowa.

Steamboat captains of the day, fearful of competition from the railroads, considered the new bridge "a hazard to navigation". Two weeks after the bridge opened, the steamboat Effie Afton rammed part of the bridge and started it on fire. Legal proceedings ensued - with a young lawyer named Abraham Lincoln defending the railroad. Abraham Lincoln (February 12 1809 &ndash April 15 1865 the sixteenth President of the United States, successfully led his country through its greatest internal The lawsuit went all the way up to the Supreme Court, and was eventually ruled in favor of Lincoln and the railroad. The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest judicial body in the United States and leads the federal judiciary.

Below is a general overview of bridges over the Mississippi which have notable engineering or landmark significance with its city. They are ordered from the source to the mouth.

The Dubuque-Wisconsin Bridge. The bridge connects Dubuque, IA with Grant County, WI (2004)

Stone Arch Bridge - a former Great Northern Railroad (now pedestrian) bridge in Minneapolis. Dubuque is a city in the US State of Iowa, located along the Mississippi River. Grant County is a county located in the US state of Wisconsin. The Stone Arch Bridge is a former railroad bridge crossing the Mississippi River at Saint Anthony Falls in downtown Minneapolis Minnesota. The Great Northern Railway, running from St Paul Minnesota to Seattle Washington &mdash more than 1700 miles (2736 km &mdash was the creation of
Interstate 35W Mississippi River Bridge - This bridge collapsed catastrophically on August 1, 2007, killing 13 and injuring over 100. The I-35W Mississippi River bridge (officially known simply as Bridge 9340) was an eight-lane steel Truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. It is scheduled to be replaced by the St. Anthony Bridge, to open in September, 2008.
Black Hawk Bridge, connecting Lansing, Allamakee County, Iowa to rural Crawford County, Wisconsin, locally referred to as the Lansing Bridge and documented in the Historic American Engineering Record. The Black Hawk Bridge spans the Mississippi River, joining the town of Lansing, in Allamakee County, Iowa, to rural Crawford County Lansing is a City in Lansing Township, Allamakee County, Iowa, United States. Allamakee County is the northeastern-most County located in the U Crawford County is a County located in southwest Wisconsin, United States. The Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS Historic American Engineering Record (HAER and Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS are programs of the
Julien Dubuque Bridge - A bridge connecting Dubuque, Iowa and East Dubuque, Illinois that is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Julien Dubuque Bridge traverses the Mississippi River. It joins the cities of Dubuque Iowa, and East Dubuque Illinois. Dubuque is a city in the US State of Iowa, located along the Mississippi River. East Dubuque is a city in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, United States. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of
Interstate 74 Bridge connecting Moline, Illinois to Bettendorf, Iowa is a twin suspension bridge, also known historically as the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge. Originally known as the Iowa-Illinois Memorial Bridge, today it is more commonly referred to as the I-74 Bridge. Moline (moˈliːn is a city located in Rock Island County Illinois, United States, with an estimated population of 43016 in 2007 Bettendorf is a city in Scott County, Iowa, United States. The population was 32445 at the 2008 census estimate
Rock Island Government Bridge connecting Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa. The Government Bridge, or Arsenal Bridge spans the Mississippi River connecting Rock Island Illinois and Davenport Iowa. Rock Island is a City in and the County seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. Davenport is a City along the Mississippi River in the American state of Iowa. Located just southwest of the site of the first bridge across the Mississippi River, it is one of only two bridges in the world with two sets of railroad tracks above the auto lanes. It also co-located with Lock and Dam #15 - the largest roller dam in the world. A Roller Dam is a type of Hydro control device which is specially designed to mitigate Erosion.
Rock Island Centennial Bridge connecting Rock Island, Illinois to Davenport, Iowa. The Centennial Bridge, or Rock Island Centennial Bridge connects Rock Island Illinois and Davenport Iowa. Rock Island is a City in and the County seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. Davenport is a City along the Mississippi River in the American state of Iowa.
Norbert F. Beckey Bridge connecting Muscatine, Iowa to Rock Island County, Illinois. The Norbert F Beckey Bridge, or Beckey Bridge for short carries Iowa Highway 92 and Illinois Route 92 across the Mississippi River between Muscatine Muscatine is a city in Muscatine County, Iowa, United States. Rock Island County is a County located in the US state of Illinois. The country's first use of light-emitting diode lights with complete lighting control to decoratively illuminate the facade of a bridge. Capable of more than 16 million color combinations that can change at any second. Viewable on youtube. com.
Great River Bridge connecting Burlington, Iowa to Gulf Port, Illinois. The Great River Bridge is an asymmetrical one-tower Cable-stayed bridge over the Mississippi River. Burlington is a city in Des Moines County, Iowa, United States. Gulf Port is a village in Henderson County, Illinois, in the United States.
Santa Fe Bridge - in Fort Madison, Iowa, the largest double-deck swing-span bridge in the world; It is the last operating swing bridge over the Mississippi River for automobile traffic and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Fort Madison Toll Bridge (also known as the Santa Fe Swing Span Bridge for the old Santa Fe rail line is a tolled swinging Truss bridge Fort Madison, situated on the Mississippi River, is a City in and one of the County seats of Lee County, Iowa, United States
Quincy Bayview Bridge - cable-stayed bridge connecting Quincy, Illinois and West Quincy, Missouri via westbound US Highway 24. The Bayview Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge bringing westbound U Quincy Illinois, known as the " Gem City " is a city on the Mississippi River in Adams County, Illinois, United States West Quincy is a small commercial area in northeastern Marion County Missouri, United States, on U Eastbound traffic into Quincy is served by the older Quincy Memorial Bridge. The Quincy Memorial Bridge is a Truss bridge over the Mississippi River in Quincy Illinois.

The Stone Arch Bridge, the Third Avenue Bridge, and the Hennepin Avenue Bridge, in Minneapolis, MN (2004)

Clark Bridge also known as the Super Bridge as the result of an appearance on PBS program Nova. The Clark Bridge (sometimes referred to as the Superbridge as the result of its construction being the subject of a documentary aired by Nova) is a Cable-stayed Nova is a Popular science Television series from the US produced by WGBH Boston This cable-stay bridge constructed in 1994 connects Alton, Illinois to Black Jack, Missouri. Alton is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about 15 miles north of St It is the northernmost river crossing in the St. Louis metropolitan area and is named after explorer William Clark.
Chain of Rocks Bridge - A bridge on the northern edge of St. Louis, Missouri; famous for a 22-degree bend halfway across and the most famous alignment of Historic US 66 across the Mississippi. The Chain of Rocks Bridge spans the Mississippi River on the north edge of St
Eads Bridge - A bridge connecting St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois; the first major steel bridge in the world, and also a National Historic Landmark. The Eads Bridge is a combined road and railway bridge over the Mississippi River at St East St Louis is a city located in St Clair County Illinois, USA directly across the Mississippi River from St This bridge now carries the St. Louis MetroLink light rail system. MetroLink is the Light rail transit system in the Greater St Louis area of Missouri and Illinois.
Chester Bridge - The bridge that connects Chester, Illinois to Missouri and eventually Perryville, Missouri. The Chester Bridge is a Truss bridge connecting Missouri 's Route 51 with Illinois Route 150 across the Mississippi River between Chester is a town located on the bluffs of the Mississippi River Valley in Randolph County, Illinois. Perryville is a City in Perry County, Missouri, United States. The bridge has been struck at least twice by tornadoes. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a Cumulonimbus cloud or in rare cases the base of a Cumulus
Hernando de Soto Bridge - carries Interstate 40 to connect Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas; listed in Guinness Book of World Records for its unique structural "letter" shape. The Hernando de Soto Bridge is a Through arch bridge carrying Interstate 40 across the Mississippi River between West Memphis Arkansas Interstate 40 (I-40 is a major west-east Interstate highway in the United States Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records (and in previous U
Frisco Bridge - was the first crossing of the Lower Mississippi and the longest cantilever truss steel railroad bridge in North America when it opened on May 12, 1892. The Frisco Bridge, previously known as the Memphis Bridge, is a cantilevered through Truss bridge carrying a rail line across the Mississippi Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1892 ( MDCCCXCII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year It connects Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas and is listed as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States.
Memphis & Arkansas Bridge - the longest Warren truss- style bridge in the United States which carries Interstate 55 to connect Memphis, Tennessee and West Memphis, Arkansas; also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Memphis & Arkansas Bridge (per its nameplates also known as the Memphis-Arkansas Bridge or Memphis-Arkansas Memorial Bridge, is a cantilevered Interstate 55 (I-55 is an Interstate highway in the central United States. Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. West Memphis is the largest city in Crittenden County, Arkansas, United States. The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP is the United States government's official list of districts sites buildings structures and objects deemed worthy of
Huey P. Long Bridge - Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, the first Mississippi River span built in Louisiana. The Huey P Long Bridge in Jefferson Parish Louisiana, is a cantilevered steel through truss bridge that carries a two-track Railroad line over the Mississippi Jefferson Parish is a parish in Louisiana, United States that includes most of the Suburbs of New Orleans.
Crescent City Connection - connects the east- and westbanks of New Orleans, Louisiana; the 5th-longest cantilever bridge in the world. The Crescent City Connection, abbreviated as CCC, (formerly the Greater New Orleans Bridge) refers to twin Cantilever bridges that carry U New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana A cantilever bridge is a Bridge built using Cantilevers structures that project horizontally into space supported on only one end

Nomenclature

Ojibwe Wigwam in northeast Minnesota (1857)

The word Mississippi comes from Messipi, the French rendering of the Anishinaabe (Ojibwe or Algonquin) name for the river, Misi-ziibi ("Great River"). The Ojibwa or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) is the largest group of Native Americans - First Nations Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people ^[7]^[8]

The Ojibwa called Lake Itasca Omashkoozo-zaaga'igan ("Elk Lake") and the river flowing out of it Omashkoozo-ziibi ("Elk River"). The Ojibwa or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) is the largest group of Native Americans - First Nations After flowing into Lake Bemidji, the Ojibwe called the river Bemijigamaa-ziibi ("River from the Traversing Lake"). Lake Bemidji is a small glacially-formed Lake, approximately 11 mi² (28 km² in area in northern Minnesota in the United States. After flowing into Cass Lake, the name of the river again changed to Miskwaawaakokaa-ziibi ("Red Cedar River") and then to Gichi-ziibi ("Great River") after flowing into Lake Winnibigoshish. Cass Lake is a glacially -formed Lake, approximately 25 sq mi (65 km² in north central Minnesota in the United States. Lake Winnibigoshish; see Lake Winnipegosis; is a body of water in north central Minnesota, in the Chippewa National Forest. ^[9] The Ojibwe name Misi-ziibi applied only to the portion below the Crow Wing River, but the ever-changing names of the river seemed illogical to the English speakers. The Crow Wing River rises in a chain of 10 lakes in southern Hubbard County Minnesota and flows southeast about 90 miles before joining the Mississippi River at

After the expeditions by Giacomo Costantino Beltrami and Henry Schoolcraft, the longest stream above the juncture of the Crow Wing River and Gichi-ziibi was named Mississippi River. Giacomo Costantino Beltrami (1779 – January 6, 1855) was an Italian Jurist, Author, and Explorer, best known for claiming Henry Rowe Schoolcraft ( March 28, 1793 &ndash December 10, 1864) was an American geographer, Geologist,

In Cheyenne the Mississippi River is called Máˀxe-éˀometaaˀe ("Big Greasy River"). The Cheyenne language ( Tsėhesenėstsestotse or in easier spelling Tsisinstsistots is a Native American language spoken in present-day Montana

Due to its size and historical significance, the Mississippi has many nicknames. Among these are:

Boaters on Hogback Island, north of Quincy, IL (2007)

The Father of Waters
The Gathering of Waters
The Big Muddy (more commonly associated with the Missouri River)
Big River
Ol' Man River (a nickname immortalized by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern in their song from the classic musical Show Boat)
The Great River
Body of a Nation
The Mighty Mississippi
El Grande (de Soto)
The Muddy Mississippi
Old Blue
Moon River
Ol' Miss

Watershed

The Mississippi River has the third largest drainage basin (or catchment) in the world, exceeded in size only by the watersheds of the Amazon River and Congo River. Quincy Illinois, known as the " Gem City " is a city on the Mississippi River in Adams County, Illinois, United States Oscar Hammerstein II (ˈhæmɚstaɪn (born Oscar Greeley Clendenning Hammerstein) ( July 12, 1895 – August 23, 1960) was Jerome David Kern ( January 27, 1885 &ndash November 11, 1945) was an American Composer of popular music Show Boat is a musical in two acts with music by Jerome Kern and book (based on a novel by Edna Ferber) and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, The Amazon River (Rio Amazonas Río Amazonas of South America is the largest river in the world by volume with a total river flow greater than the next top ten largest rivers The Congo River (for a time known as the Zaire River) is the largest River in Western Central Africa. It drains 41% of the 48 contiguous states of the United States. The term continental United States refers to the 48 contiguous states located on the North American continent south of the border with Canada plus the District The basin covers more than 1,245,000 sq mi (3,225,000 km²), including all or parts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces. Country to "Dominion of Canada" or "Canadian Federation" or anything else please read the Talk Page The drainage basin empties into the Gulf of Mexico. A drainage basin is an extent of Land where Water from Rain or Snow melt drains downhill into a body of water such as a River, The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world

Mississippi Watershed (2005)

Major tributaries of the Mississippi:

Big Black River in Mississippi
Yazoo River in Mississippi
Red River in Louisiana
White River in Arkansas
Arkansas River in Arkansas
Ohio River in Kentucky
Big Muddy River in Illinois
Kaskaskia River in Illinois
Missouri River in Missouri
Illinois River in Illinois
Des Moines River in Iowa
Skunk River in Iowa
Rock River in Illinois
Maquoketa River in Iowa
Wisconsin River in Wisconsin
Chippewa River in Wisconsin
St. Croix River (Wisconsin-Minnesota) in Minnesota And Wisconsin
Minnesota River in Minnesota
Crow River in Minnesota

Drainage Area

The Mississippi River drains most of the area between the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains, except for the areas drained to the Hudson Bay via the Red River of the North, by the St. Lawrence River and the Great Lakes, the Rio Grande (and numerous other rivers in Texas), the Alabama River-Tombigbee River, and the Chattahoochee River-Appalachicola River. Big Black River is a River in the US state of Mississippi and a Tributary of the Mississippi River. The Yazoo River is a River in the US state of Mississippi. The Yazoo River was named by French explorer La Salle in 1682 in reference to For other uses see Red River. The Red River is one of several rivers with that name. The White River is a 722 mile (1162 km long River that flows through the U The Arkansas River is a major Tributary of the Mississippi River. The Ohio River is the largest Tributary by volume of the Mississippi River. The Big Muddy River is located in Illinois. It joins the Mississippi River south of Murphysboro Illinois. The Kaskaskia River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 320 miles (515 km long in central and southern Illinois in the United States The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 273 miles (439 km long in the U The Des Moines River is a tributary river of the Mississippi River, approximately 525 miles (845 km long to its farther headwaters in the upper Midwestern United The Skunk River is a tributary of the Mississippi River in the state of Iowa in the United States. The Maquoketa River is a tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 140 miles (about 211 km long in northeastern Iowa in the United States. The Wisconsin River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River in the U See Chippewa River for several other rivers of the same name The Chippewa River in Wisconsin flows approximately 183 miles (294 km through The St Croix River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 164 miles (264 km long in the U The Minnesota River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 332 miles (534 km long in the U The Crow River is a Tributary of the Mississippi River in south-central Minnesota in the United States. Mountain peaks of the Rocky Mountains The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a Mountain range in western North America. The Appalachian Mountains ( often called the Appalachians, are a vast system of mountains in eastern North America. The Red River (rivière Rouge is a North American river Formed by the confluence of the Bois de Sioux and Otter Tail rivers in the United States Saint Lawrence River (in French: fleuve Saint-Laurent; Kahnawáˀkye in Tuscarora, Kaniatarowanenneh meaning big waterway The Laurentian Great Lakes are a chain of freshwater lakes located in eastern North America, on the Canada–United States border. Texas ( is a state geographically located in the South Central United States and is also known as the Lone Star State. The Alabama River, in the US state of Alabama, is formed by the Tallapoosa and Coosa rivers which unite about six miles above Montgomery The Tombigbee River is a tributary of the Mobile River, approximately 400 mi (644 km long in the U The Chattahoochee River runs from the Chattahoochee Spring in the Appalachian Mountains of northeastern Georgia, near the Carolinas to the southwestward

The Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico about 100 mi (160 km) downstream from New Orleans, Louisiana. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Measurements of the length of the Mississippi from Lake Itasca, Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico vary somewhat, but the US Government EPA's number is 2,320 mi (3,733 km). Lake Itasca is a small Glacial lake, approximately 18 square miles (4 Minnesota ( Native Americans demonstrated the name to early settlers The retention time from Lake Itasca to the Gulf is about 90 days. ^[10]

Outflow

Sequence of NASA MODIS images showing the outflow of fresh water from the Mississippi (arrows) into the Gulf of Mexico (2004)

Fresh river water flowing from the Mississippi into the Gulf of Mexico does not mix into the salt water immediately. MODIS ( Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board The images from NASA's MODIS to the right show a large plume of fresh water, which appears as a dark ribbon against the lighter-blue surrounding waters. MODIS ( Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board

The images demonstrate that the plume did not mix with the surrounding sea water immediately. Instead, it stayed intact as it flowed through the Gulf of Mexico, into the Straits of Florida, and entered the Gulf Stream. The Straits of Florida, Florida Straits, or Florida Strait is a Strait located south-southeast of the North American Mainland, generally accepted The Gulf Stream, together with its northern extension towards Europe the North Atlantic Drift, is a powerful warm and swift Atlantic Ocean current that The Mississippi River water rounded the tip of Florida and traveled up the southeast coast to the latitude of Georgia before finally mixing in so thoroughly with the ocean that it could no longer be detected by MODIS. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The State of Georgia ( is a state in the United States and was one of the original Thirteen Colonies that revolted against British rule MODIS ( Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer) is a payload scientific instrument launched into Earth orbit by NASA in 1999 on board

Discharge

The Mississippi river discharges at an annual average rate of between 200,000 and 700,000 cu ft/s (7,000 to 20,000 m³/s). A cubic foot per second (also cfs, cu ft/s, cusec and ft³/s) is an Imperial unit / U A cubic metre per second ( m3·s&minus1, m3/s, cumecs or cubic meter per second in American English ^[11]

Although it is the 5th largest river in the world by volume, this flow is a mere fraction of the output of the Amazon, which moves nearly 7 million cu ft/s (200,000 m³/s) during wet seasons. The Amazon River (Rio Amazonas Río Amazonas of South America is the largest river in the world by volume with a total river flow greater than the next top ten largest rivers

On average the Mississippi has only 1/11th the flow of the Amazon River, but is nearly twice that of the Columbia River and almost 6 times the volume of the Colorado River. The Columbia River (known as The Colorado River (' Aha Kwahwat in Mojave) is a River in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, approximately

History

Geology

Delta Switching

(see Mississippi River Delta) Through a natural process known as delta switching the lower Mississippi River has shifted its final course to the mouth of the Gulf of Mexico every thousand years or so. The Mississippi River Delta is the modern area of land (the River delta) built up by Alluvium deposited by the Mississippi River as it slows Delta switching, also known as avulsion, is the process by which some rivers - such as the Mississippi River - change their course near their deltas The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world This occurs because the deposits of silt and sediment begin to clog its channel, raising the river's level and causing it to eventually find a steeper, more direct route to the Gulf of Mexico. The Gulf of Mexico ( Spanish: Golfo de México) is the ninth largest Body of water in the world

The abandoned distributary diminishes in volume and forms what are known as bayous. A bayou (pronounced oʊ or uː is a small slow-moving Stream or creek or a lake or pool ( bayou lake) that lies in an abandoned channel of a stream This process has, over the past 5,000 years, caused the coastline of south Louisiana to advance toward the Gulf from 15 to 50 mi (25 to 80 km). The State of Louisiana ( or, État de Louisiane, pronounced) is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America

The currently active delta lobe is called the Birdfoot Delta, after its shape, or the Balize Delta, after La Balize, Louisiana, the first French settlement at the mouth of the Mississippi. La Balize Louisiana, was the first French settlement near the mouth of the Mississippi River in what became Plaquemines Parish.

Course changes

View along the former riverbed at the TN/AR state line near Reverie, TN (2007)

The Illinoian Glacier, about 200,000 to 125,000 years before present, blocked the Mississippi near Rock Island, diverting it to its present channel farther to the west, the current western border of Illinois. Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Reverie is an unincorporated community in Tipton County, Tennessee, United States. Rock Island is a City in and the County seat of Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. The State of Illinois ( roughly ill-i-NOY is a state of the United States of America, the 21st to be admitted to the Union.

The Hennepin Canal roughly follows the ancient channel of the Mississippi downstream from Rock Island to Hennepin. The Hennepin Canal Parkway State Park, also just called the Hennepin Canal, is an abandoned waterway in northwest Illinois, between the Mississippi River South of Hennepin, the current Illinois River is actually following the ancient channel of the Mississippi River to Alton before the Illinoian glaciation. Hennepin is a village on the Illinois River in Putnam County, Illinois, United States. The Illinois River is a principal tributary of the Mississippi River, approximately 273 miles (439 km long in the U Alton is a city in Madison County, Illinois, United States, about 15 miles north of St

Other changes in the course of the river have occurred because of earthquakes along the New Madrid Fault Zone, which lies between the cities of Memphis and St. An earthquake is the result of a sudden release of energy in the Earth 's crust that creates Seismic waves Earthquakes are recorded with a Seismometer This article is about the seismic zone in southeastern Missouri Memphis is a City in the southwest corner of Tennessee, and the County seat of Shelby County. Louis. Three earthquakes in 1811 and 1812, estimated at approximately 8 on the Richter Scale, were said to have temporarily reversed the course of the Mississippi. The Richter magnitude scale, or more correctly local magnitude M L scale assigns a single number to quantify the amount of seismic energy released

The settlement of Reverie, Tennessee was cut off from Tipton County, Tennessee during the 1811 and 1812 earthquakes and placed on the western side of the Mississippi River, the Arkansas side. Reverie is an unincorporated community in Tipton County, Tennessee, United States. Tipton County is a County located on the western end of the U Tennessee ( is a state located in the Southern United States. Arkansas ( is a state located in the southern region of the United States.

These earthquakes also created Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee from the altered landscape near the river. Reelfoot Lake is a shallow natural Lake located in the northwest portion of Tennessee and extending into Fulton County Kentucky, United States of The faulting is related to an aulacogen (geologic term for a failed rift) that formed at the same time as the Gulf of Mexico. In Geology, an aulacogen is a failed arm of a Triple junction of a Plate tectonics rift system

Native Americans

The area of the Mississippi valley was first settled by Native American tribes such as the Ojibwa, the Cheyenne, the Mississippian Culture and the Chickasaw. Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples from the regions of North America now encompassed by the continental United States The Ojibwa or Chippewa (also Ojibwe, Ojibway, Chippeway) is the largest group of Native Americans - First Nations Cheyenne are a Native American nation of the Great Plains. The Cheyenne Nation is composed of two united tribes, the Só'taa'e (more commonly The Mississippian culture was a mound-building Native American culture that flourished in what is now the Midwestern, Eastern, and Southeastern The Chickasaw' are Native American people originally from the Southeastern United States (Mississippi Alabama Tennessee

European explorers

Hernando DeSoto

Discovery of the Mississippi, DeSoto seeing the Mississippi River for the first time (1849)

On May 8, 1541, Hernando de Soto became the first recorded European to reach the Mississippi River, which he called Rio de Espiritu Santo ("River of the Holy Spirit"), in the area of what is now Mississippi. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen In Spanish the river is called Rio Misisipi. ^[12]

French explorers

French explorers Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette began exploring the Mississippi. Louis Jolliet, also known as Louis Joliet with only one L ( September 21, 1645 &ndash 1700 was a French Canadian explorer Father Jacques Marquette ( June 1, 1637 &ndash May 18, 1675) was a French Missionary who founded Michigan He traveled with a Sioux named Ne Tongo ("Big river" in Sioux language) in 1673. Sioux (pronounced SUE are a Native American and First Nations people Sioux is a Siouan language. Regional variation Sioux has 3 major regional varieties with various sub- Lects Marquette proposed calling it the River of the Immaculate Conception. For dogmatic context see Roman Catholic Mariology. For artistic depictions see Roman Catholic Marian art.

In 1682, René Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle and Henri de Tonty claimed the entire Mississippi River Valley for France, calling the river Colbert River after Jean-Baptiste Colbert and the region La Louisiane, for King Louis XIV. René Robert Cavelier Sieur de La Salle, or Robert de LaSalle ( November 22, 1643 &ndash March 19, 1687) was a French Henri de Tonti ( 1649 or 1650 – September 1704) was an Italian -born soldier explorer and fur trader in the service of France Jean-Baptiste Colbert ( August 29, 1619 — September 6, 1683) served as the French minister of finance from 1665 to 1683 under Louisiana (La celina+mario) was the name of an administrative district of New France. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent On March 2, 1699, Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville rediscovered the mouth of the Mississippi, following the death of La Salle. Pierre Le Moyne d'Iberville ]] (b 16 July 1661 - d (probably 9 July 1706)founder of the colony of French Louisiana, was born at ^[13] The French built the small fort of La Balise there to control passage. La Balize Louisiana, was the first French settlement near the mouth of the Mississippi River in what became Plaquemines Parish.

In 1718, about 100 miles (160 km) upriver, New Orleans was established along the river crescent by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, with construction patterned after the 1711 resettlement on Mobile Bay of Mobile, the capital of French Louisiana at the time. Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville ]]( February 23, 1680 &ndash March 7, 1767) was a colonizer born in Montreal, Quebec

France lost all its territories on the North American mainland as a result of the French and Indian War. The French and Indian War (1754&ndash1763 was the North American chapter of the Seven Years' War.

Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris (1763) gave the Kingdom of Great Britain rights to all land in the valley east of the Mississippi and Spain rights to land west of the Mississippi. The Treaty of Paris, often called the Peace of Paris, or the Treaty of 1763, was signed on February 10, 1763, by the kingdoms of Great Britain The Kingdom of Great Britain, also known as the United Kingdom of Great Britain, was a State in northwest Europe, in existence from 1707 to 1800 Spain () or the Kingdom of Spain (Reino de España is a country located mostly in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Spain also ceded Florida to England to regain Cuba, which the English occupied during the war. Florida ( is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States, bordering Alabama to the northwest and Georgia to the The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la Britain then divided the territory into East Florida and West Florida. East Florida was originally a part of Spanish Florida. Under the terms of the Treaty of Paris (1763, which ended the Seven Years' War, Spain ceded West Florida was a region on the north shore of the Gulf of Mexico, which underwent several boundary and sovereignty changes during its history

Article 8 of the Treaty of Paris (1783) states, "The navigation of the river Mississippi, from its source to the ocean, shall forever remain free and open to the subjects of Great Britain and the citizens of the United States. The Treaty of Paris, signed on September 3, 1783, and approved by the Congress of the Confederation on January 14, 1784, formally " With this treaty, which ended the American Revolution, Britain also ceded West Florida back to Spain to regain the Bahamas, which Spain had occupied during the war. In this article the inhabitants of the thirteen colonies that supported the American Revolution are primarily referred to as "Americans" with occasional references to "Patriots" The Bahamas, officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an independent sovereign English -speaking country consisting of two thousand Cays and Spain then had control over the river south of 32°30' north latitude and, in what is known as the Spanish Conspiracy, hoped to gain greater control of Louisiana and all of the west. These hopes ended when Spain was pressured into signing Pinckney's Treaty in 1795. Pinckney's Treaty, also known as the Treaty of San Lorenzo or the Treaty of Madrid, was signed in San Lorenzo de El Escorial on October 27,

France reacquired 'Louisiana' from Spain in the secret Treaty of San Ildefonso in 1800. The Third Treaty of San Ildefonso (formally titled the Preliminary and Secret Treaty between the French Republic and His Catholic Majesty the King of Spain Concerning the Aggrandizement The United States bought the territory from France in the Louisiana Purchase of 1803. For the film see Louisiana Purchase (film. The Louisiana Purchase (French Vente de la Louisiane "Louisiana Sale"

19th century

Steamboat commerce

Shifting sand bars made navigation difficult (2005)

Mark Twain's book Life on the Mississippi covered the steamboat commerce which took place from 1830 to 1870 on the river before more modern ships replaced the steamer. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water, Samuel Langhorne Clemens (November 30 1835 – April 21 1910 better known by the Pen name Mark Twain, was an American Humorist, satirist Life on the Mississippi is a Memoir by Mark Twain detailing his days as a Steamboat pilot on the Mississippi River before the A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving a Propeller The book was published first in serial form in Harper's Weekly in seven parts in 1875. Harper's Weekly ( A Journal of Civilization) was an American political Magazine based in New York City. The full version, including a passage from the unfinished Huckleberry Finn and works from other authors, was published by James R. Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (often shortened to Huck Finn) is a novel written by American Humorist Mark Twain. Osgood & Company in 1885.

The first steamboat to travel the full length of the Mississippi from the Ohio River to New Orleans, Louisiana, was the New Orleans in December 1811. New Orleans (nʲuːˈɔrliənz nʲuːˈɔrlənz French: La Nouvelle-Orléans) is a major United States port city and the largest city in Louisiana Its maiden voyage occurred during the series of New Madrid earthquakes in 1811–12.

Steamboat transport remained a viable industry (both in terms of passengers and freight) until the end of the first decade of the 20th century. Among the several Mississippi River system steamboat companies was the noted Anchor Line, which from 1859 to 1898 operated a luxurious fleet of steamers between St. The Anchor Line was a Steamboat Company that operated a fleet of boats on the Mississippi River between St Louis and New Orleans.

Wars

Battle of Vicksburg (ca. 1888)

In 1815, America defeated Britain at the Battle of New Orleans, part of the War of 1812. The Battle of New Orleans took place on January 8, 1815, and was the final major battle of the War of 1812. The War of 1812 was fought between the United States of America and the British Empire, particularly Great Britain and her North American colonies

The river played a decisive role in the American Civil War. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South The Union's Vicksburg Campaign called for Union control of the lower Mississippi River. During the American Civil War, the Union was a name used to refer to the federal government of the United States, which was supported by the twenty-three The Vicksburg Campaign was a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg Mississippi, a The Union victory at the Battle of Vicksburg in Warren County, Mississippi in 1863 was pivotal to the Union's final victory of the Civil War. Background See also [[Vicksburg Campaign]] After crossing the Mississippi south of Vicksburg at Bruinsburg and driving northeast Grant had won battles at Warren County is a County located in the US state of Mississippi.

20th century

In the spring of 1927, the river broke out of its banks in 145 places during the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 and inundated 27,000 sq mi (70,000 km²) to a depth of up to 30 ft (10 m). This article is about the Great Mississippi Flood of 1927 For the Mississippi Flood of 1993 see Great Flood of 1993.

On October 20, 1976, the automobile ferry MV George Prince was struck by a ship traveling upstream as the ferry attempted to cross from Destrehan, Louisiana, to Luling, Louisiana. Events 1740 - Maria Theresa takes the throne of Austria. France, Prussia, Bavaria and Saxony Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. See also Merchant ship A ferry is a form of transport usually a Boat or Ship, used to carry (or ferry) passengers and The MV George Prince ferry disaster was a nautical disaster that occurred in the Mississippi River in Louisiana on the morning of October 20 Destrehan is a Census-designated place (CDP in St Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. Luling is a Census-designated place (CDP in St Charles Parish, Louisiana, United States. Seventy-eight passengers and crew died, only eighteen survived the accident.

In 1988, record low water levels provided an opportunity and obligation to examine the climax of the wooden-hulled age. The Mississippi fell to 10 feet (3. 0 m) below zero on the Memphis gauge. Four and a half acres of water craft remains were exposed on the bottom of the Mississippi River at West Memphis, Arkansas. They dated to the late 1800s and early 1900s. The State of Arkansas, the Arkansas Archeological Survey, and the Arkansas Archeological Society responded with a two-month data recovery effort. The fieldwork received national media attention as good news in the middle of a drought. ^[14]

The Great Flood of 1993 was another significant flood, primarily affecting the Mississippi above its confluence with the Ohio River at Cairo, Illinois. The Great Flood of 1993 occurred in the American Midwest, along the Mississippi and Missouri rivers and their tributaries from April to October Cairo is a city in Alexander County, Illinois in the United States.

Two portions of the Mississippi were designated as American Heritage Rivers in 1997: the lower portion around Louisiana and Tennessee, and the upper portion around Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota and Missouri. American Heritage Rivers are designated bythe United States Environmental Protection Agency to receive special attention (coordinating efforts of multiple governmental entities

21st century

Campsite at the river in Arkansas (2007)

In 2002, Slovenian long-distance swimmer Martin Strel swam the entire length of the river, from Minnesota to Louisiana, over the course of 68 days. Slovenia, officially the Republic of Slovenia (Republika Slovenija) is a Country in southern Central Europe bordering Italy to the west Martin Strel (born October 1 1954) is a Slovenian ultra Marathon Swimmer, best known for swimming the entire length of

In 2005, the Source to Sea Expedition (http://sourcetosea.net) paddled the Mississippi and Atchafalaya rivers to benefit the Audubon Society's Upper Mississippi River Campaign. ^[15]^[16]

On August 1, 2007, the I-35W Mississippi River bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota collapsed during the evening rush hour. Events 30 BC - Octavian (later known as Augustus enters Alexandria, Egypt, bringing it under the control of the Roman Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. The I-35W Mississippi River bridge (officially known simply as Bridge 9340) was an eight-lane steel Truss arch bridge that carried Interstate 35W across

Also in 2007, it is expected that more than 150 pleasure boats will travel down the river from Grafton to Cairo while participating in the Great loop, which is circumnavigation of Eastern North America by water. The circumnavigation of Eastern North America by water is known as The Great Loop

Recreation

Water Skiing

Great River Road in Wisconsin near Lake Pepin (2005)

The sport of water skiing was invented on the river in a wide region between Minnesota and Wisconsin known as Lake Pepin. The Great River Road is a collection of state provincial federal and local roads which follow the course of the Mississippi River through ten states of the United States Lake Pepin is a naturally occurring Lake, and the widest naturally occurring part of the Mississippi River. Water skiing is a Sport where an individual (or more than one individual is pulled behind a Motor boat or a cable ski installation on a body of water wearing Lake Pepin is a naturally occurring Lake, and the widest naturally occurring part of the Mississippi River. Ralph Samuelson of Lake City, Minnesota, created and refined his skiing technique in late June and early July 1922. Ralph Wilford Samuelson ( July 3, 1904 &ndash August 28, 1977) was the Inventor of Water skiing, which he first performed Lake City is a city in Goodhue and Wabasha counties in the US He later performed the first water ski jump in 1925 and was pulled along at 80 MPH (128 km/h) by a Curtiss flying boat later that year. (For the South African airport with IATA code "KMH" see Johan Pienaar Airport. A flying boat is a specialised form of Aircraft that is designed to take off from and land on water using its Fuselage as a floating hull.

National Parks

There are seven National Park Service sites along the Mississippi River. The National Park Service ( NPS) is the United States federal agency that manages all National Parks, many National Monuments, and other conservation

The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area is the National Park Service site dedicated to protecting and interpreting the Mississippi River itself. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area protects a 72 mile (115 km and 54000 acres (220 km² corridor along the Mississippi River from the cities of Dayton and

The other six National Park Service sites along the river are (listed from north to south): Effigy Mounds National Monument, Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (AKA The Arch), Vicksburg National Military Park, Natchez National Historical Park, New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park, and Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Other sites in the US of similar history may be found at Indian Mounds Park Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves three prehistoric sites in Allamakee County The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial is located in St Louis Missouri near Vicksburg National Military Park preserves the site of the American Civil War Battle Natchez National Historical Park commemorates the history of Natchez Mississippi, and is managed by the National Park Service. New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park is a US National Historical Park in the Treme neighborhood of New Orleans Louisiana, near the French Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve protects significant examples of the rich natural and cultural resources of Louisiana 's Mississippi River Delta

Navigation history

A clear channel is needed for the barges and other vessels that make the mainstem Mississippi one of the great commercial waterways of the world. BARGE, the Big August RecGambling Excursion is a yearly convention held in Las Vegas during the first weekend of August A mainstem is defined as the principal River within a given Drainage basin, in the case where a number of tributaries discharge into a larger Watercourse A waterway is any navigable Body of water. These include Rivers Lakes Seas Oceans and Canals In order for a waterway

The task of maintaining a navigation channel is the responsibility of the U.S. Army Corps Of Engineers, which was established in 1802. The United States Army Corps of Engineers ( USACE) is a federal agency and a major Army command made up of some 34600 Civilian and 650 Military personnel ^[17] Earlier projects began as early as 1829 to remove snags, close off secondary channels and excavate rocks and sandbars. A shoal or sandbar (also called sandbank) is a somewhat Linear Landform within or extending into a body of Water,

A series of 29 locks and dams on the upper Mississippi, most of which were built in the 1930s, is designed primarily to maintain a 9 ft (2. A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal Waterways. 7 m) deep channel for commercial barge traffic. BARGE, the Big August RecGambling Excursion is a yearly convention held in Las Vegas during the first weekend of August ^[18]^[19] The lakes formed are also used for recreational boating and fishing. The dams make the river deeper and wider but do not stop it. No flood control is intended. During periods of high flow, the gates, some of which are submersible, are completely opened and the dams simply cease to function. Below St. Louis, Missouri, the Mississippi is relatively free-flowing, although it is constrained by numerous levees and directed by numerous wing dams. A wing dam is a manmade barrier that unlike a conventional Dam, only extends partway into a River.

Barges on the Mississippi River near Ste. Geneviève, Missouri. Ste Genevieve, sometimes known as Ste Geneviève, is a city in Ste