Though it's easy to imagine the Mississippi River as a wide, barge-crowded river, there are sections that are quite tranquil and which draw paddlers, not barges. The Mississippi National River and Recreation Area protects some of those upper reaches of the Mississippi.
This video, running nearly 20 minutes, introduces you to the Mississippi National River and Recreation Area, its recreational possibilities, its cultural history, and its geology and hydrology. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and sit back to enjoy this National Park Service presentation.