Information About Famous Rivers in the U.S.
There are several waterways and rivers throughout the United States, but the four most famous rivers are the Mississippi, Columbia, Rio Grande, and Missouri rivers. On your next vacation you may want to consider visiting one of the famous rivers in the US. Not only do they provide several recreation opportunities, but also the towns and cities that line these rivers are very interesting to visit.
One of the most famous rivers in the United States is the Mississippi River. If you want to experience the wonder of this river you can start at the very southern end in New Orleans; climb aboard a riverboat and enjoy an excursion up the river. The Mississippi River is 2,500 miles long and in some areas, it is nearly 1 mile wide. If you take a trip down this river you will be able to visit some very interesting communities along the way, as well as the beautiful and vibrant city of New Orleans.
Another of the famous rivers in the United States is the Missouri River; this waterway is the second largest in the US, and is actually the 15th largest in the world. Lewis and Clark traveled this river while exploring the wilds of North America; they began in the area that is now St. Louis and continued along the regions that would become Kansas City, Nebraska and North Dakota. The Missouri River eventually joins with the Yellowstone River in Montana. The most interesting area of this river is the Missouri Breaks, located in central Montana.
Lewis and Clark also traveled down another of the famous rivers of the United States, though the Columbia River was likely a much smoother trip. This river begins in British Columbia Canada and travels all the way to the Pacific Ocean. While traveling along the Columbian you will encounter several dams, as well as some of the most beautiful scenery in the country where the river divides Washington State and Oregon. The Columbia River ends when it reaches the sea in Astoria Oregon, which is very close to the area where Lewis and Clark spent the winter. You will find a reconstructed fort at the historic location.
One of the most famous rivers in the US is located in the southwest; the Rio Grande is most well known for the part it played in the settling of the Old West. This river is part of the border with Mexico, which is another reason it is so well known. Even though this river is a fairly big river, there are areas where it does not have a lot of water running, and at times even dries out. If you are interested in visiting this river, you may want to start at the Rio Grande headwaters in Colorado where you will find some awe inspiring scenery; the river also runs through the Big Bend National Park in Texas and New Mexico. This is a great place to visit if you want to get a taste of the Wild West and the Rio Grande River. When visiting this river you will also visit areas that are rich in history, as well as southwestern culture.
There are a number of waterways in the United States that you could visit, but none really compare with the most famous rivers, such as the Mississippi and the Rio Grande. When you see these rivers you will experience the wonders of nature, as well as regions that have an interesting story to tell. Before taking off on your next adventure, look into a few of the recreation opportunities along one of these famous rivers.