Mississippi River trivia
Mississippi River Mini Quiz
Test your knowledge with these top questions!
Question 1
The massive New Madrid earthquakes in 1811 caused the Mississippi River to briefly do what?
The seismic waves were so powerful they created temporary waterfalls and fluted the riverbed, forcing the current upstream for several hours.
Question 2
Author Samuel Clemens took the pen name Mark Twain from a Mississippi riverboat term meaning what?
The term specifically refers to the second mark on a sounding line, indicating a depth of two fathoms, or twelve feet, which was safe for steamboats.
Question 3
Farm runoff flowing from the Mississippi River creates what hazard in the Gulf of Mexico?
Nitrogen and phosphorus trigger massive algae blooms that consume all available oxygen, making the area uninhabitable for most marine life.
Question 4
Early steamboats revolutionized commerce on the Mississippi River by giving crews what ability?
Before steamboats, cargo was moved on flatboats that were often dismantled for scrap wood because they could not be rowed against the current.