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All the United States Minnesota Lake Itasca Headwaters of the Mississippi River

Headwaters of the Mississippi River

At this Minnesota state park you can easily wade across the source of the mighty Mississippi.

Lake Itasca, Minnesota

Added By
Ruben Stemple
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The headwaters at Lake Itasca   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
The headwaters at Lake Itasca   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
Headwaters Post   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
  JoeBenSimo / Atlas Obscura User
  JoeBenSimo / Atlas Obscura User
  JoeBenSimo / Atlas Obscura User
The outlet that is the beiginning of the Mississippi is to the right   jencrea / Atlas Obscura User
  skor25 / Atlas Obscura User
Wading near the bridge   R Stemple / Atlas Obscura User
From the very surface of the headwaters of the Mississippi   skor25 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

The Mississippi River, one of the largest rivers in the world, flows approximately 2,350 miles before it empties into the Gulf of Mexico, stretching 11 miles at its widest point. The watershed that flows into this massive river covers 31 states, two Canadian provinces, and measures about 1.2 million square miles.

Everything has to start somewhere, and the Mississippi River starts in Itasca State Park in Minnesota. 

The official beginning of the mighty river is on one side of a small rock dam where water from Lake Itasca begins to flow, soon to be joined by water from many other tributaries on its journey to the gulf. At the watershed, the river is tranquil and shallow; it's a great spot for wading.

A large post has been installed next to the headwaters since the 1930s, officially proclaiming the park’s status as the source of the great river and listing its distance to the gulf as 2,552 miles. (The U.S. Geological Survey puts the number at 2,300 miles and the EPA at 2,320 miles.)

Also in the park, just a short walk from the dam, is the first of many bridges over the Mississippi River. The park service has installed steps to the water near the bridge, providing not only access to a little current for more adventurous waders but also a prime photo opportunity. 

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Park at the visitors center and take a short walk to the headwaters.

Community Contributors

Added By

R Stemple

Edited By

jencrea, JoeBenSimo, skor25

  • jencrea
  • JoeBenSimo
  • skor25

Published

October 12, 2017

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Sources
  • https://www.nps.gov/miss/riverfacts.htm
  • http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_parks/Itasca/headwaters.html
  • https://www.usgs.gov
Headwaters of the Mississippi River
Itasca State Park
Lake Itasca, Minnesota
United States
47.239774, -95.20767
Visit Website
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