Tabla de Contenidos
The system can be divided into seven watershed zones based on the major tributaries of the Mississippi River: the Missouri, Arkansas-White, Red, Ohio, Tennessee River Basin, and Upper and Lower Mississippi River Basins.
the jefferson river
The Jefferson River is located in the northwestern United States and is named after the third American president, Thomas Jefferson. It is one of three river sources, including the Madison and Gallatin rivers, which meet in the town of Three Forks (Montana). Although an absolute conclusion has not yet been reached, it is believed that the sources of the Missouri River drain into the Jefferson River.
Currently, several organizations are charged with the protection of the Jefferson River basin. Its main objective is to protect the native wildlife and natural resources of this important river.
the missouri river
Named after the native Missouri tribe , the Missouri River means “people with wooden canoes” and is one of the longest rivers in North America. It flows through the northern United States in a southeasterly direction through seven states: Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, and Missouri; finally, it empties into the Mississippi River. It has a length of 4090 km. Its basin has an area of 2,980,000 km² and is considered the sixth largest basin in the world. The Missouri River is one of the most important sources of livelihood, transportation, and resources for the states it flows through.
For many years the Missouri River was considered the longest in North America. However, the canals and reservoirs that were built along its course have shortened it by about 116 km. Due to this, it is currently considered the second longest river after the Mississippi. It should be noted that if the Jefferson River were considered part of the Missouri, it would still be the longest.
the mississippi river
The Mississippi River is located in the center of the United States and its name derives from messipi , a word that in the Ojibwa indigenous language means “Big River” or “Father of Waters”. It is considered the longest in the country, flowing south through ten states: Mississippi, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Tennessee, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Louisiana. Subsequently, it flows into the Atlantic Ocean through the Gulf of Mexico.
It is 3,734 km long and its basin has an area of 3,238,000 km². Today it is vital to the economy and culture of the United States. In 1997, President Bill Clinton declared both sections of this river, the Upper and Lower Mississippi, as American national heritage sites.
Geographic location of the Mississippi river system
The Jefferson-Mississippi-Missouri river system begins in the state of Montana, more precisely at the Red Rocks River. This becomes the Jefferson River and later combines with the Madison and Gallatin Rivers in the town of Three Forks in Montana, thus forming the Missouri River.
After passing through the states of North Dakota and South Dakota, the Missouri River forms the natural boundary between South Dakota and Nebraska, as well as between Nebraska and Iowa.
In the state of Missouri, the Missouri River joins the Mississippi River about 20 miles north of the city of St. Louis. At this point, the Illinois River also joins the Mississippi. Later, this is also joined by the Ohio River. This connection separates the Upper Mississippi and the Lower Mississippi. In this stretch, the water capacity of the Mississippi River is doubled.
The Arkansas River flows in the direction of the Mississippi River north of the city of Greenville, in the state of Mississippi. North of Marksville, Louisiana, the final crossing of the Red River with the Mississippi River occurs.
Finally, the Mississippi River divides into several different channels, called distributaries, emptying into the Gulf of Mexico. Through the Mississippi delta, approximately 18,100 cubic meters of water flow per second.
Importance of the Mississippi River System
Transport and comunication
Since the early 19th century, rivers have been used to move and ship products between different states. At that time several channels were built that facilitated its navigation.
Currently, the Jefferson-Missouri-Mississippi river system is used to transport industrial and agricultural products, as well as materials such as iron and steel, among others. The Mississippi and Missouri rivers carry approximately 420 million tons of cargo per year.
The Mississippi river system transports 10% of the goods in the United States, making it an important means of communication. Its meridian orientation makes it an essential axis that crosses North America.
trade and industry
The development of trade thanks to the fluvial system favored innumerable cities. Some of the largest are Minneapolis, Minnesota; St. Louis, Missouri; LaCrosse, Wisconsin; Memphis, Tennessee; Columbus, Kentucky; Baton Rouge and New Orleans, Louisiana.
Another economic activity in this river basin is the extraction of wood, both for the production of paper and for construction material. Rice, sugar cane, cotton, soybeans and corn are also grown. Mining and hydrocarbon extraction also play an important role in the economy of the river system; iron, coal, clay, salt, oil and natural gas are extracted in the basin.
The main economic activities in the Mississippi Valley are industry, agriculture, aquaculture, and tourism. Fishing in the basin allows obtaining specimens of river crabs, suribís, clams and others. Hunting is another important activity in the Mississippi Valley. Mainly, raccoons, muskrats and otters are hunted, as well as alligators.
Tourism
Throughout the basin of the Jefferson-Missouri-Mississippi river system there are numerous parks and nature preserves that receive tourists year-round. In addition, there is a great diversity of historical heritage to visit: prehistoric sites, fortifications, plantations, and cities like New Orleans, which are some of the most important tourist attractions in the country.
Challenges Facing the Mississippi River System
floods
Along the Missouri and Ohio rivers of the Jefferson-Missouri-Mississippi system there are multiple dams and levees that limit the amount of water entering the Mississippi River. In this way it is possible to control the flow of water, which can vary at different times of the year.
However, with the advancement of technology and modern transportation and resource needs, it is very common to see practices that harm the fluvial balance. For example, dredging, the removal of sediment and other material from the river bed, makes the river more navigable. But, at the same time, the amount of water that the river can hold also increases, thus increasing the risk of flooding.
Pollution
The river system also faces another problem: pollution. Industrial activity, agriculture and population growth have a high impact on nature, and river systems are no exception. Although economic activities provide jobs and an increase in wealth in general, they also produce innumerable waste that flows into rivers. Among them, a large amount of chemicals, fertilizers and insecticides are also washed into rivers, altering ecosystems at the point of entry and further downstream. Government regulations have controlled these contaminants, but many still find their way into the waters.
Preservation
With the creation of natural reserves and parks, an attempt is made to preserve various sections of the river system. For example, the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge , which stretches for approximately 500 km, covers about 80,000 hectares in four different states. It focuses on the protection of the system’s own ecosystems: springs, wetlands, marshes, lakes, beaches and alluvial plain forests.
Currently, the river system of the Mississippi and its tributaries is constantly being conditioned to limit flooding, facilitate navigation, and combat river erosion.
Bibliography
- George, P. United States Geography. (19991). Spain. Oikos-Tau.
- Freese, D. Mississippi River: Headwaters and Heartland to Delta and Gulf. (2020). USA. George F Thompson Publishing.
- Bryce, C. Mapping the Mississippi River. (2008). USA. Rosen Classroom.
- https://www.nps.gov/miss/learn/education/upload/brjfact.pdf
