According to Abbreviationfinder, with population of 2,976,149, Mississippi is the 35th largest state among U.S. 50 states, and MS is the two letter abbreviation for Mississippi. Here, we provide a list of major rivers and mountains in the state of Mississippi.
Rivers in Mississippi
Mississippi
The Mississippi – also known as the “Old Man River” – is the largest river in the USA and certainly one of the most famous rivers in the world. The approximately 3,778 km long river originates in Lake Itasca in the north of Minnesota and flows about 160 km south the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mississippi River passes through the following ten states from north to south on its way from source to mouth: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi and Louisiana.
Near the city of St. Louis, Missouri, it merges with Missouri and Meramec, and near Cairo, Illinois, with Ohio. Together with the Missouri, the Mississippi-Missouri even has a length of 6,051 km, making it the fourth longest river in the world. Mississippi has numerous large and well-known cities such as Minneapolis, St. Paul, Davenport, St. Louis, Memphis, Baton Rouge and New Orleans. The Mississippi, along with its tributaries, drains a vast area that stretches from the Rocky Mountains in the west to the Appalachian Mountains in the east and covers an area of an incredible 3,220,000 km². With more than 12,000 km², the river delta near New Orleans in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the largest estuaries in the world.
No river is more connected to American history than the Mississippi. The first European to see the river was Hernando de Soto in 1541. Later the river was in the hands of the French, but after the Seven Years’ War it was the border between the Spanish and the British Kingdom. The most romantic time of the Mississippi is certainly the era of steam shipping. Numerous novels, episodes and stories play and play on the river and on its banks. The best known is without a doubt the story of “Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain (1835-1910). The most famous piece from the American musical “Show Boat” from 1927 is the aria “Ol ‘Man River”. The Mississippi has always been a transport route and that has not changed to this day, so the pushing associations consider the goods to be transported on the river among the largest in the world. But the role of the Mississippi as a place to relax should not be underestimated. There are 7 sites managed by the National Park Service on the banks of River 7 and the invention of water skiing also comes from the Mississippi region.
Big Black River
The Big Black River is a 530 km long tributary of the Mississippi. The Big Black River rises in northern central Mississippi. The river got its name from the fact that it, but especially its tributaries, transport a lot of sediment and make the water look “dirty”. A battle took place on the Big Black River Bridge during the American Civil War. From its source, the Big Black River flows southwest towards its mouth in the Mississippi. The estuary is about 40 km south of the city of Vicksburg.
Pearl River
The Pearl River is a 781 km river in the south of the state of Mississippi and the southeast of Louisiana. The source of the Pearl River is located in the middle of Mississippi in Winston County and from there flows south towards its mouth into the Gulf of Mexico. For the last 187 km of its course, the Pearl River represents the border between the states of Mississippi and Louisiana.
Tennessee River
The Tennessee River is 1,049 km long and is the longest tributary of the Ohio River. The Tennessee River flows in the US states of Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi and Alabama. The former name of the river was the Cherokee River. The Tennessee River is formed by the confluence of the Holston River and French Broad River in eastern Tennessee. The river initially flows in a southwesterly direction until it turns north on the border between Tennessee and Mississippi. The Tennessee River flows through the cities of Chattanooga, Deactur, Florence, Huntsville, Knoxville and Paducah. The Tennessee River flows into the Ohio River from the city of Paducah in Kentucky.
Yazoo River
The Yazoo River is approximately 303 km long and is a tributary of the Mississippi. The Yazoo River is formed by the confluence of the Yalobusha and Tallahtchie River near the city of Greenwood. The river is named after the Yazoo Indians who used to live on its banks. The Yazoo River flows north of the city of Vicksburg into the Mississippi.
- COUNTRYAAH: Alphabetical list of all cities, towns and villages in Mississippi, including biggest cities by population and capital city in the state of Mississippi.
Mountains in Mississippi
The state of Mississippi is a rather flat state. Only in the northern part, the so-called panhandle, are there some elevations, of which the Woodall Mountain is the highest.
Woodall Mountain
Woodall Mountain in the far northeast of Mississippi is 246 m high, making it the highest point in the state of Mississippi. However, it only towers about 90 m from its surroundings. If you want to climb the “mountain”, you should take some food with you, as there is a picnic area on the top.
Lakes and reservoirs in Mississippi
Grenada Lake
The Grenada Lake is a reservoir in northern central Mississippi with an area of approximately 140 km². The Yalobusha River has been dammed here since 1954. The primary reason for the construction of the dam was and is the flood control in this area. Nevertheless, the lake is a popular local recreation area. There are many campsites around the lake and the Hugh White State Park is also located here. Grenada Lake hosts several fishing tournaments each year.
Pickwick Lake
Pickwick Lake is a reservoir that spans the states of Alabama, Mississippi and Tennessee. The lake has an area of 174 km² and is an excellent sport fishing area. Especially catfish and black bass can be fished here.
Ross Barnett Reservoir
The Ross Barnett Reservoir is an approx. 130 km² reservoir. The Ross Barnett Reservoir is the largest drinking water reservoir in Mississippi. With an average depth of only 3 m, the Ross Barnett Reservoir is relatively shallow. The Pearl River has been dammed up since 1960 and forms a drinking water reservoir for the city of Jackson. The lake attracts up to 2 million visitors every year, who practice various water sports.
Sardis Lake
With an area of approximately 400 km², Sardis Lake is the largest reservoir in the state of Mississippi. Sardis Lake serves as a drinking water reservoir and builds up the Tallahatchie River. Sardis Lake is also very popular with anglers and a total of up to 5 million visitors flock to the lake every year.