where is the lower course of the mississippi river

Where does the lower Mississippi River begin?

The Lower Mississippi begins at an elevation of 270.5 feet above sea level at the confluence of the Mississippi and the Ohio Rivers at Cairo, Illinois.

Where does the lower Mississippi River begin and end?

And the Lower Mississippi begins at the Ohio River mark and stretches to the Gulf of Mexico. What states does the Mississippi River touch? The Mississippi River either borders or passes through the states of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana.

Does the Mississippi River have a bottom?

The average depth of the Mississippi River between Saint Paul and Saint Louis is between 9 and 12 feet (2.7–3.7 m) deep, the deepest part being Lake Pepin, which averages 20–32 feet (6–10 m) deep and has a maximum depth of 60 feet (18 m).

Where is the base of the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi River rises in Lake Itasca in Minnesota and ends in the Gulf of Mexico. It covers a total distance of 2,340 miles (3,766 km) from its source.

Where does Mississippi River start and finish?

Gulf of MexicoMississippi River / MouthThe Gulf of Mexico is an ocean basin and a marginal sea of the Atlantic Ocean, largely surrounded by the North American continent. Wikipedia

What states are in the lower Mississippi Valley?

The Mississippi Valley Division is made up of six districts, based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Rock Island, Illinois, St. Louis, Missouri, Memphis, Tennessee, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and New Orleans, Louisiana.

What's the deepest part of the Mississippi River?

200′Mississippi River / Max depth

What is the base level of the Mississippi River?

Most streams flow into larger streams and eventually larger ones flow into the ocean. For rivers that flow in to an ocean, base level is sea level. Sea level is base level for the Mississippi River.

Can you boat down the entire Mississippi River?

The answer to that is this: Yes, you can boat through the entire Mississippi River; However, if you plan on going any more north than Minneapolis, MN you will be stopped by the Upper Saint Anthony Falls Lock and Dam. You will need to relaunch your boat north of the lock if you want to continue.

Why is the Mississippi River so low 2021?

Mississippi River experiencing low water levels thanks to lack of rain in northern Minnesota, fueled by climate change. After years of high water levels that induced floods, portions of the Mississippi River have now swung to unusually low flows, an extreme shift scientists say is likely caused by climate change.

Where do the Missouri and Mississippi rivers meet?

Missouri: America's Longest River The Missouri River will travel more than 2,300 miles before it joins the Mississippi in its namesake state at St. Louis, forming the world's fourth longest river system as it rolls south to the Gulf of Mexico.

Where is the delta of the Mississippi River?

LouisianaThe Mississippi River Delta Basin is defined as all of the land and shallow estuarine area between the two northernmost passes of the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico. The basin is located in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, south of the city of Venice.

Where does the Mississippi River start and end?

The Mississippi River rises in Lake Itasca in Minnesota and ends in the Gulf of Mexico. It covers a total distance of 2,340 miles (3,766 km) from i...

How much of North America does the Mississippi River drain?

The Mississippi River and its tributaries drain all or part of 31 U.S. states and two provinces in Canada, an area of approximately 1.2 million squ...

What are the most important varieties of fish found in the Mississippi River?

The most important varieties of fish found in the Mississippi River include various types of catfish, walleyes, suckers, carp, and garfish.

How long is the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi River is 2,340 miles (3,766 km) long. The Missouri-Mississippi confluence has a combined length of 3,710 miles (5,971 km).

Why is Mark Twain associated with the Mississippi River?

Mark Twain grew up on the Mississippi River in Hannibal, Missouri, and the Mississippi is virtually a character in his classic novels The Adventure...

How far does the Lower Mississippi River flow?

From the confluence of the Ohio River and Upper Mississippi River at Cairo, the Lower flows just under 1000 miles (1600 km) to the Gulf of Mexico. It is the most heavily travelled component of the Mississippi River System. Levees on the Lower Mississippi River. Unlike on the upper rivers, there are no locks or dams on the Lower Mississippi.

What are the structures that control the Mississippi River?

The river is, however, constrained by levees and dikes to control flooding and secure a navigation channel for barges. The Old River Control Structure, the Bonnet Carré Spillway, the Mississippi River – Gulf Outlet Canal and other man-made structures on the lower reaches of the river seek to manipulate the flow of water in the vicinity ...

How far is the Mississippi River from New Orleans to Baton Rouge?

990 mi (1,600 km) Lower Mississippi from New Orleans to Baton Rouge is navigable by large ships. Main article: Mississippi River. The Lower Mississippi River is the portion of the Mississippi River downstream of Cairo, Illinois. From the confluence of the Ohio River and Upper Mississippi River at Cairo, the Lower flows just under 1000 miles ...

How deep is the Mississippi River barge?

Lower Mississippi River barge. On the lower Mississippi, from Baton Rouge to the Gulf, the navigation depth is 45 feet, allowing for container ships and cruise ships to dock at the Port of New Orleans and bulk cargo ships shorter than 150 foot air draft to fit under the Huey P. Long Bridge and traverse the Mississippi to Baton Rouge.

What are the effects of levees and channelization?

Levees and channelization —along with substantial loss of bottomland forests to agriculture in the alluvial valley —have resulted in a loss of wildlife and fish habitat, decreased water quality, and an expansion of the hypoxic zone in the Gulf of Mexico.

Where is the Mississippi River located?

The Mississippi River lies entirely within the United States. Rising in Lake Itasca in Minnesota, it flows almost due south across the continental interior, collecting the waters of its major tributaries, the Missouri River (to the west) and the Ohio River (to the east), approximately halfway along its journey to the Gulf ...

How far is the Mississippi River from its source?

It covers a total distance of 2,340 miles (3,766 km) from its source. The Mississippi River is the longest river of North America.

How big is the Mississippi River?

Mississippi River, the longest river of North America, draining with its major tributaries an area of approximately 1.2 million square miles (3.1 million square km), or about one-eighth of the entire continent.

Which river drains all or part of 31 states?

With its tributaries, the Mississippi drains all or part of 31 U.S. states and two provinces in Canada. Lake Itasca. Lake Itasca, Itasca State Park, northwestern Minnesota. Cbkarim. Although the Mississippi can be ranked as the fourth longest river in the world by adding the length of the Missouri- Jefferson ...

Which river is larger, the Ohio or the Mississippi?

Beyond the confluence with the Ohio at Cairo, Illinois, the lower Mississippi attains its full grandeur. Where these two mighty rivers meet, the Ohio is actually the larger; thus, below the Ohio confluence the Mississippi swells to more than twice the size it is above.

Is the Mississippi River a commercial river?

As the central river artery of a highly industrialized nation, the Mississippi River has become one of the busiest commercial waterways in the world, and, as the unruly neighbour of some of the continent’s richest farmland, it has been subjected to a remarkable degree of human control and modification.

When did the Mississippi River change course?

The last major change to the river’s course in the Vicksburg area occurred in 1876. On April 26 of that year, the Mississippi River suddenly changed courses, leaving Vicksburg high and dry.

What are the factors that contribute to the change in the course of the Mississippi River?

There are several factors that contribute to the change in courses of the Mississippi River. The main factor is energy . The Mississippi is a very curvy, knowns as meandering, river.

What river flows past Fort Hill?

This waterway is not the Mississippi river but rather a passage connected to the Mississippi called the Yazoo River. While the Yazoo River flows past now, in 1863 this was not the case. At that point in time, the Mississippi flowed ...

How long did the Yazoo River Diversion Project take?

The Yazoo River Diversion Project took 25 years to complete, lasting from 1878 until its completion in 1903. This once again gave river traffic access to the town of Vicksburg, which in turn helped bolster the town’s economy which was drying up due to lack of a functional river port.

Why is the flow on the inside of a river bend slower?

Meanwhile, the slower rate of flow on the inside of the river bend allows for the sediments being carried in the water to settle out and be deposited. This allows for the growth of meanders and the change in shape for the river.

Is water on the outside of a meander faster than the inside?

Water on the outside of a meander has a further distance to travel, thus it flows faster than the water on the inside of a meander.

What river flows through the upper Mississippi?

Upper Mississippi: this region comprises of the headwaters to its confluence with the Missouri River at St. Louis. In this section, the river is clear with the fresh stream winding through low countryside characterized with lakes and marshes. Middle Mississippi: Flowing down from the upper Mississippi is the middle part ...

How deep is the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America measuring a total length of 2320 miles from its traditional source at Lake Itasca. It flows south at a speed of 1.2 miles per hour to the Mississippi River Delta in the Gulf of Mexico and forms the second largest drainage system in North America after the Hudson Bay. When measured from its longest stream source at Bowers Spring, Montana, the river measures 3710 miles making the fourth longest river in the world. At its source, the river is 3 feet deep and the depth increases as the river progresses through its course. The deepest part of the river is in New Orleans where it reaches a depth of 200 feet. The width starts at between 20 to 30 feet wide which is the narrowest stretch of its entire length. The widest part of the Mississippi river occurs at Lake Winnibigoshish near Bena, MN, where its width is 11 miles.

What is the Mississippi Flyway?

The natural vegetation including sedges, pondweeds, and millet support the regular colonization by migratory birds. The path used by these birds as they move up and down the river has been referred to as the Mississippi Flyway, stretching from northern Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico.

What river was the main border of the United States in the 1880s?

Birds' eye view of New-Orleans in 1880, with dense riverboat traffic on the Mississippi River. In the 18 th century, the Mississippi River was the primary western border of the United States. However, as the country expanded westwards, the river became a main border point of the eastern southern, western, and Mideastern United States.

What are the three main sections of the Mississippi River?

It is divided into three main distinct sections comprising of the upper, middle, and lower Mississippi.

How many states does the Mississippi River pass through?

With the subdivision of the country the river borders or passes through 10 states namely Mississippi, Missouri, Louisiana, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, and Iowa.

How did the Mississippi River change its course?

The river has changed its course at its mouth through a process referred to as avulsion (delta switching). The process occurs due to large deposits of silt and sediment that cause the raising of its level and causing it to eventually find a steeper, more direct route to the Gulf of Mexico.

Where does the Mississippi River flow?

Flowing entirely in the United States (though its drainage basin reaches into Canada), it rises in northern Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for 2,530 miles (4,070 km) to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico.

What is the geographical setting of the Mississippi River?

Physical geography. The geographical setting of the Mississippi River includes considerations of the course of the river itself, its watershed, its outflow, its prehistoric and historic course changes, and possibilities of future course changes. The New Madrid Seismic Zone along the river is also noteworthy.

How far does the Mississippi River go from New Orleans to the Gulf of Mexico?

The Mississippi River empties into the Gulf of Mexico about 100 miles (160 km) downstream from New Orleans. Measurements of the length of the Mississippi from Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico vary somewhat, but the United States Geological Survey’s number is 2,340 miles (3,770 km).

How much does the Mississippi River discharge per second?

The Mississippi River discharges at an annual average rate of between 200 and 700 thousand cubic feet per second (7,000–20,000 m3/s). 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 cubic feet per second (200,000 m3/s) during wet seasons. On average, the Mississippi has only 8% the flow of the Amazon River.

What are the causes of sediment reduction in the Mississippi River?

The reduction in sediment transported down the Mississippi River is the result of engineering modification of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Ohio rivers and their tributaries by dams, meander cutoffs, river-training structures, and bank revetments and soil erosion control programs in the areas drained by them.

What is the Mississippi River watershed?

Watershed. Mississippi watershed (2005) The Mississippi River has the world’s fourth largest drainage basin (“watershed” or “catchment”). The basin covers more than 1,245,000 sq mi (3,220,000 km2), including all or parts of 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces.

What river is near New Orleans?

Lower Mississippi. Lower Mississippi River near the city New Orleans. The Mississippi River is called the Lower Mississippi River from its confluence with the Ohio River to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. Measured by water volume, the Lower Mississippi’s primary branch is the Ohio River.

What is the Mississippi River?

America’s Greatest River – the Mississippi – is a watery superhighway that helps power the nation’s economy . The river is the spine of one of the world’s most extensive inland waterway systems, allowing the efficient movement of grain, petroleum products, coal, chemicals and other products throughout the heartland and across the globe.

How many acres of forest is there in the Lower Mississippi River?

Nearly all of the lower river’s floodplain, including about 1 million acres of forest, is privately owned, unlike the Upper Mississippi, which includes the 260-mile long Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Refuge.

How wide was the Mississippi River before levees were built?

Before major levees were constructed, the river’s unrestricted floodplain was up to 100 or more miles wide . Water from 41 percent of the continental United States and parts of two Canadian provinces drains into the Mississippi River and flows to the Gulf of Mexico.

How many reaches does the Mississippi River have?

The River’s Reaches. River scientists and managers view the 2,320-mile Mississippi as having three distinct reaches: the Upper Mississippi, from the headwaters in Minnesota to the Missouri River confluence at St. Louis; the Middle Mississippi, from St. Louis downstream to the Ohio River confluence at Cairo, Ill.; and the Lower Mississippi, ...

What are the endangered species in the Lower River?

With the delisting of the Interior Least Tern this year, the federal government classifies two other species as endangered along the lower river: the Pallid Sturgeon and the Fat Pocketbook mussel. Up to 120 species have freshwater fish have been recorded in the lower river; about 90 species reproduce in the lower river.

How long does it take for the Mississippi River to flow?

It takes 90 days for a drop of water to flow the entire length of the Mississippi River. The Alligator Gar, the largest freshwater fish living in the Lower Mississippi River, can measure up to 6 or more feet long and weigh up to 300 pounds.

What is the LMRCC?

Since 1994, the LMRCC has worked hand-in-hand with engineers, scientists, private landowners and others to help manage the Lower Mississippi in ways that respect its economic value while sustaining important ecological processes, restoring altered habitats and raising the profile of this unsung natural wonder.

Where does the Mississippi River start?

The Start of the Mississippi River in Lake Itasca in Northern Minnesota where the Mississippi is born and cut through the center of the Country. The Mississippi River Basin Drains 31 states and travels through 10 states in the Country. It joins the Ohio and Missouri River before ending in the Gulf of Mexico.

Where is the widest part of the Mississippi River?

The widest part of the Mississippi can be found at Lake Winnibigoshish near Bena, MN , where it is wider than 11 miles. The widest navigable section in the shipping channel of the Mississippi River is Lake Pepin, where the channel is approximately 2 miles wide.

What is the importance of the Mississippi River?

The Importance Today of The Mississippi River and the Mississippi River Basn 1 holds around 260 species of fish. In fact, 25% of all the fish that live in North America live in the Mississippi River. 2 40% of the nation’s migratory waterfowl use the river corridor during their spring and fall migration. 60% percent of all North American birds (326 species) use the Mississippi River Basin as their migratory flyway. 3 From Cairo, IL upstream to Lake Itasca there are 38 documented species of mussel. On the Lower Mississippi, there may be as many as 60 separate species of mussel. 4 The Upper Mississippi is host to more than 50 mammal species At least 145 species of amphibians and reptiles inhabit the Upper Mississippi River environs.

What is the Delta region famous for?

Yet best known around the world is the blues music of the lower Mississippi River Delta . The Mississippi Delta is famous for its fertile soil and for its poverty.

What is the Delta Blues?

Vocal styles in Delta blues range from introspective and soulful to passionate and fiery. Musical styles within the Delta region are diverse and it was here that the blues, Cajun music, jazz, and zydeco evolved. Yet best known around the world is the blues music of the lower Mississippi River Delta.

Where did the Mississippi Delta originate?

Mississippi Delta Blues was one of the earliest forms of Blues music that was formed in the Mississippi Delta which is a region of the US that lies between Memphis Tennesee in the north to Vicksburg Mississippi in the south and from Helena Arkansas in the west to the Yazoo River in the east.

How many states are there in the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi River drains an area of about 3.2 million square kilometers (1.2 million square miles) including all or parts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces, about 40% of the continental United States. Its the 4th largest in the world.

Where does the Mississippi River Begin and End?

The starting point of the Mississippi River is in Lake Itasca, Minnesota, and it ends in the Gulf of Mexico. From its source, the Mississippi River travels a distance of 2,340 miles (3,766 km) in total, making it the longest river residing in North America.

What is the Mississippi River basin?

There are 32 states included in the Mississippi River basin, along with 2 Canadian provinces, which drain their water to the Mississippi. This drainage basin covers more than 1,245,000 square miles (3,220,000 square kilometers) or about 1/8 of the whole continent, making it the 4th largest in the world.

Are there Tributaries Flowing into the Mississippi River?

Several large and small tributaries flow into the Mississippi River, including the Missouri, Red, and Ohio rivers. Not only does the river border states, but it also creates borders and partial borders for numerous states.

How Deep is the Mississippi River?

The Mississippi River doesn’t possess the same depth across its entire length. Instead, the depth of the river varies depending on the particular point you’re located at.

What is the Width of the Mississippi River?

The width of the Mississippi River ranges between 20 and 30 feet at its narrowest point. However, at its broadest point, the Mississippi River measures over 11 miles wide.

What Speed does the Mississippi River Travel at?

On average, the Mississippi River flows at a speed rate of 1.2 miles per hour. This means that it would take a raindrop that has fallen at the headwaters of the Mississippi River nearly 82 days to reach the Gulf of Mexico. Of course, this doesn’t include stopping to sightsee!

What Type of Animals Can You Find in the Mississippi River?

There’s a vast variety of animals that consider the Mississippi River to be home, including: