Significance of Mississippi River

The Mississippi River is the second-longest river in the United States (after only the Missouri River, which flows into the Mississippi River), at an approximate length of 2,320 miles. The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Major tributaries to the Mississippi River include the Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Arkansas Rivers. There are dozens of other large tributaries. The Atchafalaya River is a major outlet of the Mississippi.