Mississippi River

Largest river of the U. S., and with IMG:content-1389.png:[merged small][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][merged small] the Mi ouri branch the longest on the globe, 4,133 m. It drains nearly all the depre ion between the Appal a chi an and the Rocky Mountains, an area of 1,240,039 sq. m. Most of its basin consists of plains well watered and heavily wooded in the e. and semi-arid and sparsely gra ed in the w., with a prairie region connecting the two. Its main branches are the Ohio from the e., the Mi ouri, Arkansas, and Red from the w. The length of the river and of its main tributaries, and their annual discharge, are as follows: IMG:content-1390.png:[blocks in formation] The total extent of navigable water on the main stream and its tributaries is 15,000 m. The main river heads in Lake Itasca in n. Minn., at an elevation of 1,680 ft., and flows generally s. to the Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio heads in the Appal a chi an Mts. and flows s. w. to its mouth at Cairo, Ill. The Mi ouri heads in the n. Rocky Mts., flowse. and then s. to its mouth just above St. Louis. The Arkansas heads in the Rocky Mts. in Col. and flows e.s.e.; and the Red, heading in the same range in New View of the Upper Mi i ippi. Mexico, pursues a nearly parallel course to its mouth. The main river above the mouth of the Ohio and its branches have in general sufficient slope to transport detritus, which is in great part deposited along the lower river, raising its bed above the surrounding country, which is largely made up of this detritus. In this part of its course the river is very winding and unstable, continually shifting its position. Floods, frequently disastrous in extent, are of common occurrence on the river and its main branches. On the lower river they are seldom serious except when floods in two or more branches are coincident. Then they often overflow the levees, which line the river, and cover vast extents of neighboring country, which lies slightly lower than the river. The river empties through a delta, consisting of several outlets, known as pa es, each of which is shallow and obstructed by bars, which formerly limited navigation. Within a few years the South Pa has been deepened by jetties, so that ve els of 30 ft. draft can easily and safely enter. See JETTY and LEVEES.