It also supports more than 750,000 manufacturing, agriculture and tourism jobs in 60 counties directly adjacent to the waterway. Barges and their tows move approximately 175 million tons of freight each year on the Mississippi through a system of 29 locks and dams.
The upper Mississippi generates over $250 billion in commerce each year and the entire length of the river generates over $400 billion. It is a barge highway, water well, and recreational space.
The river is 2,341 miles of power and beauty and it is vital to our existence.
Let’s start by acknowledging that this is one big, bad river. The Mississippi River is the 4th longest river in the world and the 2nd longest river in North America. Did you know our section of the river actually-flows East to West in the Quad Cities? Just one of the many fun facts about the Quad Cities.
