Mississippi Basin
also referred to as the Western Rivers, is a mostly riverine network of the United States which includes the Mississippi River and connecting waterways. The Mississippi River is the largest drainage basin in the United States. In the United States, the Mississippi drains about 41% of the country's rivers...The major tributaries are the Arkansas, Illinois, Missouri, Ohio and Red rivers. Given their flow volumes, major Ohio River tributaries like the Allegheny, Tennessee, and Wabash rivers are considered important tributaries to the Mississippi system. Before the Mississippi River reaches the Gulf of Mexico, it runs into its distributary, the Atchafalaya River.” (Wiki). see map
Connected Sites
| Site | Rationale | Link |
| Cahokia Mounds | situated a few mile east of the Mississippi. Nearby “Horseshoe Lake” was hydrologically connected to the River until 20th C flood protection measures totally separated it | |
| Frank Lloyd Wright Buildings | Bear Run, the stream Fallingwater is built upon, flows into the Monongahela River, then joins the Allegheny River to form the Ohio River, which ultimately empties into the Mississippi River. | |
| Great Smoky Mountains | Situated on the Atlantic/Gulf of Mexico divide. | |
| Hopewell | Situated in the Scioto River Valley. The river flows into the Ohio and thence to the Mississippi amd played a significant role in the Hopewell culture, serving as a transportation route and a source of resources. Some of the Hopewell sites are located directly on terraces overlooking the Scioto River. | |
| Poverty Point | The Bayou Maçon flows along the eastern edge of the site. Its waters eventually reach the Gulf of Mexico through the Atchafalaya River, a major distributary of the Mississippi River | |
| Waterton Glacier International Peace Park | The Park contains (entirely within USA) the “Triple divide Peak” which marks the Atlantiic (via the Mississipi), Arctic (Via the Saskatchewan) and Pacific (Via the Columbia) divide | |
| Writing-on-Stone / Áísínai’pi | The Milk River flows through the park and is unique in Alberta as it is the only river in the province that flows south into the Missouri River, which is part of the larger Mississippi River basin | |
| Yellowstone | Stands on the Continental Divide – the following rivers flow Eastwards into the Mississipi via the Missouri - Yellowstone River: the largest river in the park. joining the Missouri River in North Dakota. Madison River, Gallatin River, Lamar River |
Suggestions?
Do you know of another WHS we could connect to Mississippi Basin?
A connection should:
- Not be "self evident"
- Link at least 3 different sites
- Not duplicate or merely subdivide the "Category" assignment already identified on this site.
- Add some knowledge or insight (whether significant or trivial!) about WHS for the users of this site
- Be explained, with reference to a source