The Mississippi River: North America's Longest Waterway

The Mississippi River is the longest river in North America, flowing approximately 3,734 kilometers (2,320 miles) from its source at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota to its mouth at the Gulf of Mexico. Its massive drainage basin covers about 3.2 million square kilometers (1.23 million square miles), spanning 31 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces—making it the third-largest watershed in the world.

More than a geographic feature, the Mississippi is a vital artery: a major commercial navigation route moving hundreds of millions of tons of cargo annually (grain, coal, petroleum, chemicals), a water source for millions of people and industries, and an ecological corridor supporting diverse fish, bird, and wildlife populations. Its cultural significance—from Mark Twain's steamboat tales to the blues born along its banks—runs as deep as its channel.