There is more to the Mississippi River than the main channel. Although the channel is wide, fast moving, and beautiful, the back waters are what make the river, what gives the river its power, its life.

Many years ago, while driving along the river with my mother, we stopped to soak in the beautiful expanse of this magnificent waterway. We were looking at the wide rippling river finding its way. I remarked how beautiful the channels were, where barge traffic, and pleasure craft travel through its corridors. Mom pointed out the beauty of the meandering sloughs framed by lush green foliage. The home of over 300 species of birds, a vast diverse population of mammals, amphibians, and reptiles, not to mention the countless number of species of fish. I developed a different appreciation and respect for those sloughs. After all, it was the Minnesota Slough, where I grew up.

We live far away from that beautiful stream, the Native Americans called Misi-ziibi or “Father of Waters.” We affectionately call it “The Old Man.” As that lovely old song puts it:

“Ol’ Man River, that Ol’ Man River
He must know somethin’, but he don’t say nothin’
He just keeps rollin’, he keeps on rollin’ along.”

I am thankful for modern technology that allows me to visit the Mississippi River, if only through the many pictures that I personally have, plus the pictures that are shared by legions of my fellow river “rats,” who love this body of water as much as I do.