How long is Mississippi River?

The Mississippi River is the second-longest river and chief river of the second-largest drainage system on the North American continent, second only to the Hudson Bay drainage system.

Is the Mississippi River the longest in the US?

The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America, flowing 2,350 miles from its source at Lake Itasca through the center of the continental United States to the Gulf of Mexico. The Missouri River, a tributary of the Mississippi River, is about 100 miles longer.

Is the Mississippi River the longest river in the world?

Although the Mississippi can be ranked as the fourth longest river in the world by adding the length of the Missouri-Jefferson (Red Rock) system to the Mississippi downstream of the Missouri-Mississippi confluence—for a combined length of 3,710 miles (5,971 km)—the 2,340-mile length of the Mississippi proper is ...

How long and deep is the Mississippi River?

It takes 90 days for a single drop of water to travel the Mississippi River's entire length. From its source, Lake Itasca, to its end, the Gulf of Mexico, the Mississippi River drops 1,475 feet. The deepest point on the Mississippi River is located near Algiers Point in New Orleans and is 200 feet in depth.

How many states does the Mississippi River run through?

There is so much to consider along this great American waterway as it courses through 10 states—Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana—it would seem easy to overlook a few pieces.

The scale of the Mississippi River in perspective

Can you swim in the Mississippi river?

He said the Mississippi is safe to swim and fish in, as long as people are safe about it. Showering after swimming in the river and wearing a life vest are recommended. "It's safe. In every river you're going to have a little bit of pollution and the Mississippi is no different," said Kean.

What is the deepest river in the United States?

Other Deep Rivers in the United States

The Hudson River is the deepest in the U.S., and the Mississippi River is not far behind. A major tributary of the Mississippi River is the Ohio River, one of the longest in the country.

What is the deepest river in the world?

From its tributaries to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, the massive river includes rapids, wetlands, floodplains, lakes and swamps. In addition, the Congo River is the world's deepest recorded river at 720 feet (220 meters) deep in parts — too deep for light to penetrate, The New York Times reported.

Where do ships enter the Mississippi river?

The channel services four of the top ten ports in the United States: the Port of Greater Baton Rouge (Port of Baton Rouge), the Port of South Louisiana, the Port of New Orleans, and the Plaquemines Port, Harbor and Terminal District (Port of Plaquemines).

What is largest river in world?

What are 5 interesting facts about Mississippi River?

Are there alligators in Mississippi River?

Once considered an endangered species in the late 1960s, American Alligators have made a big comeback in the swampy marsh areas surrounding the Mississippi River. It is estimated that there are just over 30,000 alligators in Mississippi, with most centralized in the southern portion of the state.

What are the 5 longest rivers in the U.S. in order?

Is the Mississippi river man made or natural?

The Mississippi no longer fits the definition a river as "a natural watercourse flowing towards an ocean, a lake, a sea, or another river." Rather, the waterway has been shaped in many ways, big and small, to suit human needs.

Which is the world's cleanest river?

The Ministry of Jal Shakti Declares This River as The Cleanest River in The World. Recently, the Jal Shakti Ministry declared the Umngot river in Meghalaya as the cleanest in the country. The ministry took to Twitter share a stunning image of the crystal-clear river.

What is the oldest river on Earth?

The Finke River, which is also called Larapinta by the Aboriginal People, in central Australia is believed to be the oldest river in the world. While the Finke River's exact age is unknown, it is at least over 300 million years old and some of the oldest parts of the river may be over 340 million years old.

Which country is called the land of no rivers?

The Vatican is an extremely unusual country, in that it is actually a religious city within another country. As it is only a city, it has almost no natural terrain within it, and therefore no natural rivers.

What state in the United States has the most rivers?

Indeed, according to the official website for the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, Alaska has 365,000 miles of river, compared with Nebraska's 79,056 and Texas' 184,797.

Can you drink Mississippi River water?

Current Status and Research. Stretches of the Mississippi River within the park corridor exceed water quality standards for mercury, bacteria, sediment, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyl), and nutrients. Unfortunately, these "impairments" can make the water unsuitable for fishing, swimming, and drinking.

Is there sharks in the Mississippi river?

There are sharks that will get into the Mississippi River traveling from the Gulf of Mexico. While most are located at the mouth of the river, sometimes, they have been spotted upstream heading up into the Mississippi River towards the cooler states and where the water is completely fresh.

Why is the Mississippi river poisonous?

Now: Industrial chemicals are heavily regulated, but the Mississippi is still polluted. While plenty of fish live in the river, they are contaminated with mercury, PCBs and other chemicals, prompting the Minnesota Department of Health to recommend people limit their consumption.