The Mississippi is the most famous river in the United States. From its source in the heart of the North American continent, the Mississippi River flows through a rich mosaic of people, places, and cultures. Millions of people live along the banks of the Mississippi. Great cities have grown up alongside the river -- from the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul to St. Louis, Memphis, and New Orleans. Today, the Mississippi is as likely to make the headlines because of floods along its banks or pollution in its water as it is for its cities and industries. Book jacket.