The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is a huge river in the middle of the United States. It starts in a small lake in Minnesota. Then it flows all the way down to the Gulf of Mexico. The river is about 2,340 miles long. Many people, plants, and animals depend on it.

Where the River Flows

The Mississippi begins at Lake Itasca in Minnesota. It flows south through ten states. Some of these states are Iowa, Missouri, Tennessee, and Louisiana. The river ends in the Gulf of Mexico near New Orleans. Along the way, it grows bigger as other rivers join it.

A map shows how the Mississippi River twists across America.
A map shows how the Mississippi River twists across America. (Shannon1 / Wikimedia Commons)

Why It Is Important

The Mississippi River is very important to people. Boats use it to carry food and goods like corn and wheat. Farmers use its water to grow crops. Many kinds of fish and birds live near the river. Big cities like Memphis and St. Louis sit along its banks.

Fun Facts

  • You can walk across the Mississippi River at its start because it is very small there.
  • The name Mississippi comes from a Native American word meaning 'great river'.
  • More than 260 kinds of fish live in the Mississippi River.

Did You Know?

The Mississippi River is so wide in some places that it can be over one mile across!