Back to Geography
π·
π Great Rivers
πΊπΈ Mississippi River
USA's greatest river; drains 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces
USA 1541 Great Rivers
π Key Facts
1
3,730 km β 4th longest river in the world; drains 31 US states
2
First European to see it: Hernando de Soto (1541); explored by La Salle to its mouth (1682)
3
Carries 500 million tonnes of sediment each year; built the Mississippi Delta into the Gulf of Mexico
"Old Man River" β Mark Twain grew up on the Mississippi; called it the "body of the nation"
Quick Reference
Category
π Great Rivers
Country / Region
πΊπΈ USA
Key Year
1541
About
USA's greatest river; drains 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces