MISSISSIPPI RIVER ( Algonquin 3/ issi Rrne, great river; literally, father of waters). The principal river of the North American continent ; counting as a part of it the longest branch of the drainage system, the Missouri, which far over tops the central stem, it is the longest river in the world. Its eonrse is entirely within the United States. Popularly. the name is applied to the main north and south stem of the system, which rises in the highlands of Minnesota, in Elk Lake, just south of Lake Itasca, in latitude 47° 10' N., longitude 95° 10' W. Its sources are 1462 feet above the Gulf of Mexico. into which it empties. Its general course is southerly, with numerous windings, giving it a length of about 2500 miles to its mouth in latitude 29° N.. longitude 89° 15' W. Following up the Missouri branch, and the Jefferson to its head in southwestern Mon tana, the total length of the Mississippi-Missouri, from its source to the Gulf of Mexico, is fully 4200 miles. The Mississippi and its branches amain the entire western slope of the Appa lachian, and nearly the whole eastern slope of the Rocky Mountain system within the United. States. Its drainage basin covers an area of about L257.000 square miles, or over two-fifths of the total area of the States, exclusive of Alaska. It is navigable to the Falls of Saint
Anthony at Minneapolis, 2161 miles, and by smaller boats above the falls. Its tributaries large enough to he mapped on a chart of com paratively small scale number 240, among which are 45 at present navigable. The most impor tant of its tributaries navigable by large or small boats are the Missouri, navigable to the Great Falls in Montana, 2300 miles; the Ar kansas, navigable to Wichita, Kan.; the Red River, navigable to Gainesville, Tex.; the Ohio, navigable to Pittsburg, 963 miles. The total navigable length of the Mississippi and its trib utaries is over 14.000 miles following the river windings, and 9000 miles measured in straight lines. The river forms a portion of the hound arks of ten States. having the southern part of Minnesota, and the State; of Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas, and most of Louisiana on the west bank; and Wiseonsin. Illinois, Kentucky. Ten nessee. and Mississippi on the east. Twenty-ono States and Territories are intersected by the navigable waters of this great system. The chief cities situated on its banks are New Orleans, Natchez, Vicksburg, Memphis. Cairo, Saint Louis. Quincy, lturlington, lock Island. Daven port, Dubuque. Saint Paul. and Alinneapolis.