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Where does the Mississippi River begin?
geographyrivers
Quick Answer
The Mississippi River begins at Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota and flows about 3,730 kilometres south to the Gulf of Mexico.
The Full Story
At Lake Itasca, the Mississippi starts as a small stream that visitors can walk across on stepping stones. It flows through or along the borders of 10 US states before entering the Gulf of Mexico below New Orleans. Its drainage basin covers about 3.2 million square kilometres, roughly 40 percent of the continental United States. Together with the Missouri River, it forms one of the longest river systems in the world. The name comes from an Ojibwe word often translated as 'great river'.
Key Facts
1.It starts at Lake Itasca, Minnesota
2.It is about 3,730 km long
3.It borders or passes through 10 states
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"From a tiny stream to America's great river"