Issue link: https://viewer.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1331878
D I S C O V E R T H E M I G H T Y M I S S I S S I P P I A destination like no other Stretching for 2,350 miles, the Mississippi River fl ows south from its headwaters at Minnesota's Lake Itasca to the Gulf of Mexico. As one of the world's major river systems in size, biological activity and habitat diversity, it is called the "Mighty Mississippi" for good reason. Bisecting America's heartland, it serves as a natural border for 10 states and is home to 360 species of fi sh, 326 species of birds, 145 species of amphibians and 50 species of mammals. The river's cultural legacy has inspired artists and writers such as Maya Angelou, Tennessee Williams and Mark Twain, whose depictions of the Mississippi are a constant companion to his iconic hero, Huckleberry Finn. Unique culinary traditions are also bountiful—from rivaling barbecue in St. Louis and Memphis, to Cajun and Creole cuisine in New Orleans. And the river's impact on American music styles— including Delta blues, jazz, gospel, country, folk and rock 'n' roll—can be felt deep in the country's soul. Some of the most scenic stretches of the Mississippi lie in the river's upper reaches, where the waterway is wide and clear, and where the landscape is diverse. Here, you can admire the towering bluff s lining Minnesota, the rolling green farms of Wisconsin, the hills and caverns of Missouri, and amber waves of Iowa grain. The twists and turns of the Lower Mississippi seem to mirror the spirit of the South itself. Here, where the river snakes back on itself in fanciful spirals, you fall into a slower rhythm that is ideal for absorbing the region's lush beauty, captivating history, exquisite cuisine and easy- going hospitality. S O U T H E R N M U S I C , N E W O R L E A N S , U S A S H R I M P É TO U FFÉ E 167 Call us on 138 747 (AU), 0800 447 913 (NZ) or contact your local Viking travel agent