The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River

The Mississippi River

  • The Mississippi has a high flood risk because:
  • It has over 100 tributaries.
  • Its drainage basin covers 1/3 of the USA and some of Canada.
  • Heavy rain in April 1993 saturated the upper basin so storms through June and July caused a large amount of surface run-off.
  • An area of land the size of Britain was flooded.
  • Road bridges had to be closed.
  • 43 lives were lost and a lot of property was destroyed there were 50,000 evacuees.
  • Long term effects included the fact that the water didn't go away quickly and it was still draining off the land months later.
  • Sewage had been washed with the water so their was a great risk of disease.
  • It took moths to clean out houses and offices.
  • Stagnant water attracted mosquitoes and rats.
  • Human activity: dams, no water could penetrate through the soil because of buildings and concrete.

Reducing the risk of flooding:

  • Dams have been added to make large lakes.
  • Strengthen the levees.
  • Afforestation - trees are planted to slow down surface run-off.
Water

Agricultural pollution

Agricultural pollution

Water

Deltas

Deltas

Water

Disease: Cholera

Disease: Cholera

Water

Hydrographs

Hydrographs

Water

Levees and flood plains

Levees and flood plains

Water

Managing water supplies

Managing water supplies