RegionsSoutheast-The Mighty Mississippi

The Mississippi River-page 75

This river’s source is Lake Itasca in Minnesota.

It flows North to South and is the longest river in the United States.

1.The place where a river begins is called the source.

The river’s mouth is the place where it empties.

Where is the Mississippi River’s mouth?

At the beginning of the Mississippi the river is just a shallow creek.

As it flows south it grows broader and deeper.Why?The Mississippi is fed by smaller rivers called

tributaries. 2. Two tributaries that flow into the Mississippi

River are the Missouri River and the Ohio River.

See map page 75 and answer questions.

Mississippi for Travel

The river is used for travel and trade.

It is often changing shape because of the flowing water.

Read excerpt page 76. In the past 20 years

engineers have built walls along parts of the Mississippi to control flooding and keep the river from changing course.

New Orleans

Where is New Orleans located? Its location has been key to the city’s

growth. Goods from all over the U.S. come

downriver. When they get to New Orleans they can be shipped to anywhere in the world.

New Orleans is one of the busiest ports in the nation.

Soggy Coast

The Mississippi River’s delta is in Louisiana. A delta is the land formed by the soil the river

deposits as it flows into the sea.Delta soil is rich and dark and good for

farming.The delta area and parts of the Coastal Plain

have a low elevation close to sea level making the land wet. We call this a wetland.

Wetlands help control floods by soaking up water.

Wetlands are also a home for animals such as alligators, crawfish, and falcons.

Wetland