MISSISSIPPI RIVER

MISSISSIPPI RIVER'S SOURCE

• Major river of North America and the U.S
• Lake Itasca is Mississippi rivers source
• Located at Itasca State Park, Clearwater County, MN

THE MOUTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

• The mouth of the river is the Gulf Of Mexico
• Located at Pilottown, Plaquemines Parish, LA

THE LENGTH OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

• The length of the Mississippi River is 2,320 miles long
• Ranks as the forth longest and tenth largest river in the world

THE STATES THAT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER GOES THROUGH

• Cuts through these states Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi, and Louisiana

INDUSTRY OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

• Moderated by 43 dams
• Fourteen of those dams are located above Minneapolis in the headwaters region and serve multiple purposes
• Including power generation and recreation
• The remaining 29 contain locks and were constructed to improve commercial navigation of the upper river

DIFFERENT ORGANISMS THAT INHABIT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

• It has been estimated that every year approximately 8,000,000 ducks, geese, swans, and wading birds use the river as a flyway
• The main types of migratory birds that the Mississippi River has to offer include: Black, Wood, Mallard, Teal, Widgeon, Pintail, and Ring-necked birds
• The Upper Mississippi River is the home of the Bald Eagle
• The river also provides a home to many different fish and other types of animals

POLLUTANTS THAT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER HAS TO FACE

• More than 12.7 million pounds of toxic chemicals were dumped in the Mississippi River in 2010
• Those chemicals were nitrates, arsenic, benzene and mercury
• Some of the toxins are known to cause cancer, reproductive disorders, and developmental delays
• About 11 percent of the world's population does not have access to clean drinking water