Incredible Facts About the Mississippi River

The Mississippi River has many intriguing histories and sceneries to share. From Minnesota to Louisiana, the river touches ten states. The Mississippi River is known for its contribution to the industrialization of the United States. It is the main source of hydroelectric energy. It is best known for contributing water sources to millions of people. It also supports economic growth and contributes to importing fish species. If you are inquisitive to learn everything about the Mississippi river, take our latest quiz on facts about Mississippi.

Interesting Facts About the Mississippi River

• The Mississippi River is considered one of the world’s major river systems due to its size, and biological productivity. 
• It runs within the United States and touches ten rivers that include Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana.
• It is recognized as the second-longest river in North America, running 2,350 miles from its source at Lake Itasca, then crosses the center of the continental United States and ends at the Gulf of Mexico. 
• The Missouri River is a tributary of the Mississippi River and its length is 100 miles long.
• Some people believe that it is the third-longest river system in the world.
• The widest part of the Mississippi River is at Lake Winnibigoshish near Bena, and the width is 11 miles.
• It is home to diverse living things including 260 species of fish, making it 25% of fish species from North America. 60% of North American birds depend on the Mississippi River.
• The Mississippi river length is around 3,730 kilometers or 2,320 miles.
• The term Mississippi is derived from Messipi, is an Anishinaabe word meaning the name of the river Misi-ziibi.
• It is divided into three sections from Lake Itasca to the confluence with the Missouri River, the center of Mississippi to the Ohio River, and the Lower Mississippi, flowing from the Ohio River to the Gulf of Mexico.
• Did you know? A water drop takes 90 days to travel through the entire Mississippi River.
• The Mississippi’s deepest point is marked near Algiers Point in New Orleans and its length is 200 feet in depth.
• Spanish explorers landed in the Mississippi in 1540. French was the first people who encroached on the permanent settlement in the river.
• The Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto was the first European to come to the Mississippi.
• The Mississippi is also referred to as the ‘Father of Waters.’ Algonkian-speaking Indians named the river “Mech-e-se-be” meaning “Father of Waters” or “Great Waters”.