Mississippi River Starts Here...

Mississippi River Origin, Lake Itasca, MinnesotaMississippi River: Trickle Flowing North (Above & Below)
Mississippi River Flooding in St Louis 2007
The Mighty Mississippi River in New Orleans (photo courtesy Wikimedia)

We are now in the state of Minnesota, also known as the 'Land of 10,000 Lakes'. It is here, in the North Western quadrant of this state, where the Mississippi River begins its journey at Lake Itasca. The name Mississippi apparently came from an old Indian word 'Misiziibi' which means 'great river'. The River is the second longest USA river and runs through 10 states. It is documented as being 2,552 miles (4107 km) long, travelling north for the first 63 miles (101 km) before heading east then south until its impressive end where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico 100 miles downstream from New Orleans. Although we have seen the river in several states, we can now say we have seen it at its origin here in Minnesota, where it flooded in St Louis last year, and at its terminus in New Orleans where we sat on the bank with a cocktail in hand. It is hard to believe that such a small trickle of water develops into the mighty river that measures up to a mile (1.6km) wide in some places. Over the past 7 years we have seen the Mississippi River numerous times. We have driven over it, sat beside it and flown over it, yet we have never failed to be awed by it.