Settlements of the Mississippi

The Mississippi river is the largest river in North America. It stretches from north to south, right across the USA, for a total distance of 2,350 miles (3,780 km). If its major tributary, the Missouri river, is included, then the Mississippi-Missouri river system is the fourth longest in the world at 3,740 miles (6,020km). Besides being one of the USA's main geographical features, the Mississippi also plays a central role in the history of the USA.