It's easy to cross the Mississippi River at its source Want to borrow this image for your website or blog? Please read Terms & Conditions.

The Mississippi River begins its long journey in northern Minnesota at Lake Itasca. Here the Mississippi is a small stream that can be crossed easily on foot using conveniently placed stepping-stones. It gives no indication of its 2,552 mile journey or the "mighty" force it will later become. There are very precise rules about what constitutes the source of a river. For the Mississippi River, this has been determined to be Lake Itasca. Oddly enough there is a smaller lake located in the same park that feeds into Lake Itasca, but because of the way the rules are laid out it isn't considered the true source.

More Strange Geography

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Resources for Planning your Visit

• Itasca State Park
• Wikipedia's Lake Itasca
• Water Words That Work
• Official Website Of Hubbard County, Minnesota
• Clearwater County Minnesota, Source of the Mississippi
• Explore Minnesota