Why are the mississippi and ohio rivers important to many of the people who live on or near them?
put detial into it
thanks
2007-05-06 14:38:09 · 6 answers · asked by Alex 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
The Mississippi River is one of the major north-south routes to transport grains, other food stuff, and many manufactured supplies. In fact, it was the major route until the late 1800's until the railroads and later the Interstate highways were completed.
The Ohio River is one of the main tributaries of the Mississippi River and was the primary route settlers took to the central U.S. The western route followed the Ohio River, then down to St. Louis via the Mississippi, across Missouri along the Missouri River, and up to Nebraska to follow the Platte River. That got the settlers to the Rocky Mountains.
Naturally, not everyone who traveled west made it to the Pacific Ocean. Some people found the ground wonderful for farming and settled along the route. Even more people failed in their attempts to reach Oregon and California, for a variety of reasons and had to make the best life they could along the trail.
These days, river trade is not as important as it once was; but it still is profitable. The people living along the rivers are usually more concerned by floodwaters than anything else. There are very few hydro-electric plants along the Mississippi and none on the Missouri River below Souix City, IA. Instead, the rivers are left open to navigation.
2007-05-06 18:43:58 · answer #1 · answered by Kevin k 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Rivers in general are important for a number of reasons:
1. They provide fresh drinking water (at least they did before they were polluted).
2. They provide a source of power (water wheels) for things like running mills.
3. They provide a source of transportation for goods and services.
2007-05-06 22:14:24 · answer #2 · answered by Mark S, JPAA 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Since the 19th century these rivers have been a means of transporting people and goods(both imports and exports).
2007-05-06 23:06:27 · answer #3 · answered by John W 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
dams provides electricity and easy transportation and if they broke then they r effed in the a
2007-05-06 22:16:43 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They row row row their boats up and down the rivers.
2007-05-06 21:45:22 · answer #5 · answered by Keyne 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
they bring products to their ports therefore making the port city money on tariffs and such.
2007-05-06 22:50:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋