The Mississippi River unnavigable by drought
The Mississippi River runs through the central part of the United States. It empties into the Gulf of Mexico. It has a length of 3,770 kilometers. One of its tributaries, the Missouri , is the longest river in North America. The Mississippi is used as a thoroughfare for transportation. For people. For merchandise. But the persistent drought is jeopardizing this use and, therefore, also the economic benefits that it entails. the mississippi river mississippi river facts for kids length start depth
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Gigantic barges are seen stranded at the bottom of the river. The visible sandbars are more numerous than ever. In the region, they had never seen the Mississippi’s water level so low before. Climate change strikes a nation where skeptics still abound. the mississippi river length
This situation is not surprising. The worst drought in half a century is taking place. The water level of this River is about to reach an all-time low. In a few weeks, the authorities will be forced to shut down navigation on the river. Paradoxically, in the spring of 2011 the entire region was flooded by the rising river. Thousands of people had to flee their homes. If there is no rain, the Mississippi’s water level will hit that terrible record this month, according to the National Weather Service. mississippi river facts for kids length
But the problems of this River affect not only the navigation of ships, but also agriculture. The terrible drought of last summer left more than 50% of the cereal farmland dry. mississippi river facts for kids
The drought has made the waters so low that parts of the rocks on the bottom can be seen, a danger to boats. The largest and heaviest barges are the first to stay ashore. the mississippi river start depth
In August, some 93 ships ran aground on the Mississippi River near Greenville. For this reason, the 17-kilometer stretch was closed. The solution to transportation is to dredge the river (which is damaging to the environment) and to place buoys that indicate a safe navigation path . The solution to climate change is more complicated. The first step is to recognize that it exists and that we have to do something about it.
