The source of the Mississippi River, Lake Itasca, is a spring-fed bowl-shaped basin of lakes and bogs deep in the pine forests of northern Minnesota. Buses may sometimes disgorge groups of people to gawk at the spot where the mythical river emerges from the lake. In spite of the crowds at the source of the [...]
High water along the Mississippi (as well as periods of very low water) is part of the river’s natural cycle and a necessary one to sustain the variety of life in its ecosystem and to replenish ground water. In most years, river levels peak in spring with runoff from melting snow and early spring rains, [...]
Flora The Upper Mississippi Valley has a wide variety of plant life in a narrow area. At river level, plants that tolerate a lot of moisture flourish: trees such as willow, elm, sycamore, maple, river birch, as well as water lilies, lotuses, sedges, and pondweeds. Further uphill, trees like oak, hickory, and walnut predominate. A [...]
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