EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The Mississippi River is the largest drainage basin in the United States and the second-longest river in North America. It is also the 15th largest river by discharge in the world. This schematic map of the Mississippi and its major tributaries shows the extent of this watershed.

Detailed explanation-2: -Ten largest river drainage basins worldwide 2021 As of 2021, the Amazon basin, located in northern South America, was the largest drainage basin in the world. The Amazon River and its tributaries drain an area nearly seven million square kilometers.

Detailed explanation-3: -The Mississippi River is 2, 340 miles long, whereas the Missouri River is 2, 466 miles long. This makes the Mississippi River the second-longest river in the United States by 126 miles. The Mississippi River flows through ten different states in the US.

Detailed explanation-4: -Water from parts or all of 31 states drains into the Mississippi River, and creates a drainage basin over 1, 245, 000 square miles in size.

Detailed explanation-5: -The Mississippi River-Headwaters watershed consists of 1, 255, 105 acres (1, 961 square miles) in the far north part of the basin. The watershed contains the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Lake Itasca in Itasca State Park.