The Mississippi River is the second longest river in North America. It flows about 2,340 miles from a small lake in Minnesota all the way south to the Gulf of Mexico. The river passes through or borders ten states. Its name comes from a Native American word meaning “great river.”
Many animals call the Mississippi home. Catfish, paddlefish, and freshwater mussels live in the water. Bald eagles, blue herons, and pelicans hunt along the banks. American alligators swim in the warm, southern parts of the river.
- The Mississippi is a major highway for big boats.
- Barges carry corn, soybeans, coal, and oil up and down the river.
- The city of New Orleans sits near the end of the river, where it meets the sea.
- The river drops off tons of mud and sand there, building new land called a delta!
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