How deep deep is the Mississippi river?

The Mississippi River is the primary river, and second-longest river, of the largest drainage basin in the United States. From its traditional source of Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota, it flows generally south for 2,340 miles to the Mississippi River Delta in the Gulf of Mexico.





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Key Points: At a depth of 216 feet (though some sources say it's 202 ft), the Hudson River is the deepest river in the United States. The Hudson River's headwaters are located in the Lake Tear of the Clouds in New York's Adirondack Park. It travels 315 miles from that point to Upper New York Bay.

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The Congo is the deepest river in the world. Its headwaters are in the north-east of Zambia, between Lake Tanganyika and Lake Nyasa (Malawi), 1760 metres above sea level; it flows into the Atlantic Ocean.

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The first person on record to swim the entire Mississippi River was Martin Strel in 2002. Strel swam the entire River in 68 days. Martin Strel is a Slovenian professional swimmer who had made a name for himself as an athlete many years before attempting the swim.

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The natural deepest hole in the entire Mississippi Drainage is off Algier's Point (opposite Jackson Square), where it dives to 250 feet deep. Most Rivergator sections are at least 90% wilderness and no more than 10% industry.

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The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is an area of hypoxic (link to USGS definition) (less than 2 ppm dissolved oxygen) waters at the mouth of the Mississippi River. Its area varies in size, but can cover up to 6,000-7,000 square miles.

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What Causes the Dead Zone? Heavy rains and melting snows washed massive amounts of nutrients—particularly nitrogen and phosphorus—from lawns, sewage treatment plants, farm land and other sources along the Mississippi River into the Gulf of Mexico.

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The average person can swim as fast as one to two miles per hour or at an average speed of 1.5 miles per hour. If a person were to swim the entire 24-hour day without stopping, they would cover 36 miles. It would take 65 days to swim the entire Mississippi River at this pace.

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Yes, you can swim in the Twin Cities metro Mississippi River. However, you should use caution in impaired reaches of the river and avoid swimming anywhere in the river up to 48 hours after a major rain event (when bacteria levels can be highest).

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Researchers have documented at least two bull shark sightings in the Mississippi River. Female bull sharks can reach up to 11 feet long and weigh 500 pounds.

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