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
flows 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 fish,
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 bluffs 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
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Call us on 138 747 (AU), 0800 447 913 (NZ) or contact your local Viking travel agent
