Mississippi National River and Recreation Area  

Used by Native Americans for trade, food, and water supply long before Europeans visited the “New World,” the Mississippi River and its watershed have shaped the continent and its cultures. Today, the "Father of Waters" is still a powerful force of nature. It is used by millions of people for drinking water, a playground, a shipping lane, and a political boundary. Although it is heavily influenced by human controls, it remains a haven for millions of plants, animals and other living things that thrive in its embrace.