A journey down the Mississippi River is a voyage through one of the largest countries in the world, the United States of America. For centuries, the Mississippi has been used for trade, communication and warfare. It is still one of the busiest cargo routes in America. It has inspired poets, writers and singers, and its beauty attracts many tourists. We travel the entire 3780 kilometres, from the glacial lakes in the north to the vast delta in the south. The river is divided into five sections and each section begins with a map showing the area that will be covered. Map references are highlighted within the text to show the reader where they are on their journey. The text has been written in themes - economic, social, nature, people and history - to enable the reader to study particular aspects of the river along its course.