How was the mississippi river formed?

The Mississippi River has the fourth-largest drainage basin in the world, encapsulating more than 1.2 million square miles and approximately 40 percent of the landmass of the United States. The Mississippi River Delta, where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico, is thought to have initially formed about 7,000 years ago. read more

The Old River Control Structure, between the present Mississippi River channel and the Atchafalaya Basin, sits at the normal water elevation and is ordinarily used to divert 30% of the Mississippi's flow to the Atchafalaya River. read more

For 7,000 years, the Mississippi River has snaked across southern Louisiana, depositing sediment from 31 states and 2 Canadian provinces across its delta. As sediment accumulated under water, plant communities began to develop, trapping more sediment and building land. read more