The Mississippi River winds its way 2,552 miles as it travels from the headwaters in northern Minnesota to the Gulf of Mexico in Louisiana. The river begins 1,475 feet above sea level, and is the longest river in North America. <br> The Mississippi passes through ten states, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. The Mississippi--Missouri River system is the world’s fourth longest. Only the Nile, Amazon and Yangtze Rivers are longer. The River drains approximately 40% of the continental United States - all or part of 31 states, and two Canadian provinces, Ontario and Manitoba. The total drainage area of the Mississippi River is approximately 1.25 million square miles. <br> The Mississippi releases 2.3 million cubic feet of water per second into the Gulf of Mexico and more than 400-million cubic yards of mud, sand and gravel each year. It provides transport for more than 472-million tons of cargo each year, including 46% of the grain exported from the United States. More than 12 million people live in the 125 counties and parishes that border the Mississippi River. <br> The Mississippi River valley generates over $7 billion in agricultural and forest products and $29 million in manufacturing goods each year. <br> The Mississippi is a major flyway for migratory birds. It is used by up to 40% of North America’s duck, goose, swan and eagle population. Waterfowl hunting in the flyway is valued at $58 million per year and sport fishing is valued at over $100 million annually. The Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife Refuge reports 3.5 million visits a year. That’s more than the number of visits to Yellowstone National Park. <br> International visitors spend an estimated $2.6 billion each year throughout the ten river states, generating more than 53,000 jobs. The Mississippi River is a water source for over 4 million people. A system of 29 locks and dams control navigation on the Upper Mississippi between Minneapolis, Minnesota and St. Louis, Missouri.