The Mighty Mississippi

The Mighty Mississippi

A Long Journey Rain falls. It mixes into the clear waters of a lake.

The lake flows into a river. A child could wade across here. This is where the mighty Mississippi River begins.

The water will travel through ten of the fifty United States. It will take three months to reach the sea.

The Upper River At first, the river flows through many locks and dams. Together, they make it safe for boats to travel. They hold back water so boats don't hit the river bottom.

Boats on this part of the river carry wheat and corn down south. The grain helps feed the world.