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Article: Big river rambling.
- Article from:
- BOAT/U.S. Magazine
- Article date:
- November 1, 2005
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2005 Boat Owners Association. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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The Mississippi River is perhaps our most fabled waterway. It is steeped in fact and fiction, lore and legend. It has inspired writers and artists and at the same time, has provided a living and a way of life for no-nonsense rivermen. For recreational boaters, it offers a tremendous range of opportunities.
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Statistically impressive, the Mississippi is 2,350 miles long from the headwaters in Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico; it drains all or parts of 31 states and two Canadian provinces; and is the third largest watershed in the world. It is home to 241 species of fish, 40 species of mussels, and 292 species of birds use its flyway. ...