About two billion years ago, environmental tension altered the environment around the Mississippi River System basin, creating the mountain systems in North America.
Erosion put further stress on the areas within the rivers, shaping depressions in the ground.
Many years after this, the land continued to be molded into the Mississippi River System due to the overflowing of water from nearby oceans, causing constant flooding.
Around two million years ago, glaciers up to 6,500 feet thick continued to disturb the environment.
The receding formation of glaciers 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, left large amounts of water in North America, which created the rivers.

The Mississippi River stemmed from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota where it was only a tiny outlet stream.
It worked its way 2,350 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico.
Today, the Mississippi River is connected to hundreds of tributaries making up the Mississippi River System.
About two billion years ago, environmental tension altered the environment around the Mississippi River System basin, creating the mountain systems in North America. Erosion put further stress on the areas within the rivers, shaping depressions in the ground. Many years after this, the land continued to be molded into the Mississippi River System due to the overflowing of water from nearby oceans, causing constant flooding. Around two million years ago, glaciers up to 6,500 feet thick continued to disturb the environment. The receding formation of glaciers 15,000 years ago, at the end of the last ice age, left large amounts of water in North America, which created the rivers.
The Mississippi River stemmed from Lake Itasca in northern Minnesota where it was only a tiny outlet stream. It worked its way 2,350 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico. Today, the Mississippi River is connected to hundreds of tributaries making up the Mississippi River System.
Mississippi River System