What 3 major rivers run through the central US?

1. The Mississippi River is the longest river in North America, flowing for over 2,340 miles from its source at Lake Itasca in Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico. The Mississippi River Basin drains an area of over 1.2 million square miles, encompassing 31 states and two Canadian provinces. The Mississippi River is a vital transportation route and a source of water for drinking, irrigation, and industry.

2. The Missouri River is the longest tributary of the Mississippi River, flowing for over 2,500 miles from its source in the Rocky Mountains in Montana to its confluence with the Mississippi River near St. Louis, Missouri. The Missouri River Basin drains an area of over 500,000 square miles, encompassing 10 states and two Canadian provinces. The Missouri River is a vital transportation route and a source of water for drinking, irrigation, and industry.

3. The Ohio River is the largest tributary of the Mississippi River, flowing for over 981 miles from its source at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to its confluence with the Mississippi River near Cairo, Illinois. The Ohio River Basin drains an area of over 200,000 square miles, encompassing 14 states. The Ohio River is a vital transportation route and a source of water for drinking, irrigation, and industry.