Why is the Mississippi River so dangerous?

My cousin had fell into the Mississippi River a couple of weeks ago while working on the tug boat and thank you Lord for his life jacket and radio because he made it to the bank around Lake Providence, LA and was only treated for hypothermia. Alot of lives are claimed from that River and I praise God his wasn't one of them.

I work on the Mississippi River as a towboat captain. They are not lying about how dangerous it can be. When the River raises each year it is more dangerous.

Being around the river all my life, I have a great deal of respect for it. ROLL ON BIG MUDDY ROLL ON........

At New Orleans the river is really narrow and fast because of close levees. Here in Mississippi, the levees can be 2 or 3 miles apart. When in flood, it's crashing through the trees , pastures and fields. Everything can die. Hunters, boaters, deer, bear, hogs, cows, etc.

I'm still saddened about those three kids that died last month 😪

I can understand this being dangerous for someone who falls in the river. Looking at that water I couldn’t understand for the life of me who would voluntarily swim in the river

i told some people from out of town not to swim in the river yesterday and they said "we know how to swim"... I called the police and they came out and told them to leave. This happened right near the c.c.c... I have video! They did have life jackets on but still it dangerous!

I'm from St. Louis. Literally sits right on the bank of the Mississippi River. Sometimes I forget how big it is reaching all these different states. It flooded St. Louis in 1993 so I know it's nothing to play with. If you fall in without a life jacket that's probably it for you

Me: Living in Maryland, watching nervously concerned knowing I am never going to be anywhere near the Mississippi River....

Went fishing in it one time here in Tennessee an entire tree came up out of the water like it had been planted but was a full size tree then got sucked back under,our boat got caught in a whirlpool spinning us around lost a few family members to that river it’s something you better respect because when it’s got you that’s it.

There are bad days but I grew up swimming in the Mississippi, and I've also lost a friend's child, she was out in the water and had one done hand and the son had the other son's hand and an undertow came through and took the younger brother, he was about 5-6 years old, they found him, the next day, a few miles away. His brother has always blamed himself, because he couldn't hold on, and he was only 10 or so at the time.

Why would someone , even a kid , think it’s safe to swim in the Mississippi?

I live in Minnesota right by the Mississippi river and its running fast right now. The currents are unreal.

And we know this yet we have no warning signs nor barriers to protect people! 😪

Fantastic production.

I know when I was around a river like that my dad said do not fight the current the undercurrent will suck you under flow with the current and kind of go to the side and get to the bank as quick as possible. I have heard of under-watered welders going in the Mississippi River one time and telling their boss I quit give me my paycheck I'm not going down there again. Catfish that are so big could almost swallow a human whole. Don't know if it's true but too many men I've come back up from under the water and said I'm not going down there you cannot pay me enough to go back down there.

Mississippi is my home. I've crossed the Mississippi River Bridge several times. Never thought about swimming in it 🤔

I can't believe it's gotten to the point where people have to be told not to get in the river. I remember as a kid, being told stories about people drowning or getting sucked under a boat. We were terrified to go near the railing of the ferry, let alone the riverbank. Y'all, stay out of the river. And there are gators in there. And gar fish and the spare bull shark in Lake Pontchartrain. Does anyone else remember having to watch the Wildlife and Fisheries safety movie (over and over again) about water safety and how to survive in the swamp if you go overboard, or the vehicle you are in goes over the railing into a swamp area? Maybe we should bring that video back.

Mississippi River + underwater turbines = unlimited electricity 😃 🔌

It flows too fast! The bridge on i20 in Louisiana is scary

I dont know why them child were out there sad

Great coverage!

200 years ago James Eads walked the bottom of the Mississippi using a diving bell that he made. He is the g.o.a.t. of the Mississippi river. There are some cool videos about James Eads here on KZhead. One of the most impressive human beings in history

It's dumping ground for serial killers to dump a body

It's so dangerous

No telling how many old timers are under the Mississippi it was at one time the only way around to keep the logs moving.

so sad and tragic I wish her babies never went without an adult 🙏💔🖤 for the family I cannot imagine there pain

deepest part of the Mississippi.. 200ft @ Algiers point... lots of undertow.

Very interesting and good, Alexandra …!!! 😎👍✅

The Mighty also keeps Galveston Beach water dirty.

what a great report, I won't be entering the ms in new orleans

If your from la then you know not to play with her

the Amite & Comite R,. around Baton Rouge can get pretty vicious after a cpl days rain too

If we could just collect 5% to 10% of flood(Excess) water,(Mississippi R) to Treatment, Pipes-Tanks, West to Colorado River Headwaters(Granby?) We could fill Lakes Powell, & Mead, Electric Power, etc? Enough to flow to Mexico's Delta Wetlands? Gotta do something soon?

very informative, great anologies.. i wish education system was this good

I would not wanna go swim in the river I seen a river in oklahoma go from normal levels to high levels with in just seconds

My father told me in the 1930’s there was a crippled woman who would get tourists to put up money to watch her swim the river. He said that’s how she earned money.

I learned to ski on the Mississippi! Guess it all depends on how well you know the river.

i never knew this. learn something everyday

At the shoreline The current is nojoke It's deeper than the gulf of Mexico but they say the Hudson River is the deepest River in the USA

I was walking across a bridge on the Mississippi yesterday, I was about 30 feet up and there was a ton of geese and ducks sitting on the ice. My buddy jumped off the bridge a long time ago and it ripped his clothes of and another friend had to jump in to save him.

That's why you don't swim when the river is rough and rowdy

What are the 2 Canadian provinces that drain into the Mississippi?

I don't live anywhere near the Mississippi River, and before today I had no reason to fear the river, but man this made me scared of the river. Not too different from the ocean, just immense physics that you cannot fight. I always try to remember to be respectful of the ocean when I'm there, but need to remember that applies to rivers too. Especially huge ones like the MS.Would be cool to take a boat ride on the river though (just no falling in lol)

The true Nile River.

I’m scared to swim in the River thanks for making this video

the wisconsin river is deadly in wisconsin,you wouldnt want to be on a sand bar because they suddenly shift just like that

A good example of how restricting the water flow, increasing the power of the water, is the California aqueduct. This is how, with no help, only design of the pipe sizing in the right spot, it’s able to reach LA up and over the mountains.

Anyone who questions whether the river is dangerous or not only needs to go see the river on its lower course...The river will provide your answer right away.

Do these laws of physics apply to other rivers too?

Thanks 👍 from India

guess i'm cancelling my vacation plans to swim in the mississippi river

And I live on this River in Wisconsin, as well as work on boats for a living. Fun fun

dangerous poop water ☠☠☠

Excellent Commentary...and YeSss...I won't go swimminG in this river Ever!!!✌😎

Make a pipeline from mississippi to california dams.

The Mississippi River has seen a lot of tragedies.

Alexander = Emmy Well Done

Thank for explaining this like I’m 5

Oh great just my luck next month I’m headed for Thomson Federal Prison in Thomson Illinois and guess what’s less than 100 feet away? The freaking Mississippi River! I hope it doesn’t flood in Thomson.

I’m glad you explain this like I’m 5

Factors. This lady on the left. She will live a full life. God bless her with NOT JUST BEAUTY, BEING VERY ARTICULATE, & OOZING WITH COMMON SENSE. HELL NO I AINT SWIMMING IN THE MIGHTY MISS. RIVA. IM GOOD.

And?

Lots and lots of concrete with sharp and rusty rebar sticking out everywhere in that river. Giant Blue cats and flatheads to give you a bump and creep you out. Backwater pools full of big moss-covered snapping turtles. Upper Mississippi not as creepy but really not good swimming water.

In 1992 I swam from Minneapolis to the Gulf.

If it drags you into trees and what not you have the full weight of that water pin you in between that stuff and then you're trying to get out and it shoves you under.. Then you flip out of it just to get hung up and more sticks and trees

That's one strong sister in New Orleans!

Doesn't the river change too? It's not in the same place it was 100 years ago.

WOW!

The one up side…it still has plenty of water, along with the Missouri. Wish it could be sent out west….

Now it's drying up

I dont think its really a river more like a puddle now its been drying up so much

What did they just say?

Whoa

We NEED FREASH WATER PIPELINE FROM THE MISSISSIPPI TO OUR DESERT STATES

What kind of stupid question is that look at the river.. Have you ever seen that water smash and under those pilots doing like 30 miles an hour... It's intimidating I'll be thinking about 50' boats getting smashed against those pile ons like they're nothing

Jeff buckley 😥

Jeff Buckley rip'

In the Mississippi River where we threw them choppas

Current.

I would never take the kids to go swim in the Mississippi river ever..

Funny what difference a few months can make. Almost no Mississippi River now.

The real Euphrates

Hello how are you doing

Think it’s time to put up the ropes and sign’s fa sure

They forgot to mention all those syringes floating within.

DDA hope people are safe

She splits the Twin Cities. Has claimed lives for sure.

Because they keep trying to change it

Life guards should non that river at all times

Send this water to southern California and Nevada just like Colorado the great American pipeline for water

Every river that meanders is dangerous. the Mississippi is most dangerous because of its size. Don't be fooled. Rivers like the South Saskatchewan, where I live, claim people every year. lakes and pools are for swimming. Rivers are okay for canoes and kayaks. But, even experts have the required safety equipment.

Because there are a lot of black communities and souls of inslaved people trapped in the water....Speak Ancestors Speak🎉

32 states drain into Louisiana Sewage from 32 states OMG yup I'm done with seafood 😆🤣

😳

It's like you have to explain things in a stupid way for some Americans can understand.

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂go up north of minneapolis to the headwaters (itaska).

Here in Memphis the Mississippi River looks scary to me so yea i try to stay as far from it as possible 💯💯💯💯

Crawdads.....

Fear porn