Located in south-central North America, the Mississippi River is the longest river in North America and the fourth largest river in the world, with a total length of 6,270 kilometers and a drainage area of 2.98 million square kilometers. The current originates in Minnesota, USA, flows through the central plains and flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The farthest source of the water system is the Jefferson River, a tributary of the Missouri River, which is located in the northern section of the Rocky Mountain in the northern part of the western United States. The name of the Mississippi River comes from the Indian Argonne Golden Gate in Wisconsin in the north of the United States. Because of its numerous tributaries, Americans call it the "Old Man River". Together with the Amazon River, the Nile River and the Yangtze River, it is the largest water system in North America, with many lakes and swamps on both sides. 18 1 1 year, the steam turbine "New Orleans" made its maiden voyage to the Mississippi River, with an annual transportation capacity of over 200 million tons. The main cities along the river include: Minnesota, Bohris, Missouri, St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans (Hekou City) Directory [hidden] 1 Nicknames 2 Note 3 Extended reading 4 External links [edited] Nicknames Because of the vastness and historical significance of the Mississippi River, the Mississippi River has many nicknames: the father of waters, the gathering of waters and the great muddy (more commonly associated with the Missouri River). The Grand Mississippi River, El Grande River (de Soto), the muddy Mississippi River, and the ancient Blue Moon River are the main parts of the big river country.