The Mississippi River is the second-longest river in the United States. It flows through ten states. But now, the river’s waters are dropping. People are seeing the effects.
Many areas are seeing low water levels. That includes the city of Memphis, Tennessee. This year, the water levels there have dropped by over 10 feet (3 m). On October 17, officials said the waters reached a record low. High temperatures and dry weather are causing this situation.
The river’s low levels have revealed land. Tower Rock usually pokes up about 60 feet (18.2 m) above the water. It’s on Missouri’s side of the river. The waters around the rock can be as deep as 37.5 feet (11.4 m). You’d usually need a boat to get there.
But on October 21, the waters around Tower Rock dropped to under 1 foot (0.3 meters) deep. This revealed the base of Tower Rock’s island. have been walking to the island. Officials have been asking visitors to be careful.
The low waters have caused problems. Farmers use the Mississippi River to ship goods. Those goods include corn, soybeans, and cotton. The water levels are causing delays.
People are doing their best to handle the situation. Some businesses are looking for other ways to their goods. Officials in Tennessee Valley are looking to release water from nearby dams to boost the river.
However, experts say the dry weather will likely continue through the winter. People will have to wait and see.
Updated October 25, 2022, 5:02 P.M. (ET)
By Tyler Burdick
