where does the mississippi river start and where does it end

The Mississippi River begins its journey in Lake Itascain northern Minnesota. It’s a small lake located in a state park, and the source is marked by a large rock inscribed with the words “Headwaters of the Mississippi River.”

The river then flows south for 2,340 miles (3,770 kilometers) through 10 states before emptying into the Gulf of Mexiconear New Orleans, Louisiana. The Mississippi River Delta, a vast area of wetlands and channels formed by the river’s sediment deposits, marks the end of the river’s path.