Delaware and the Mississippi

Factual Questions
1

In the first chapter[sup]1[/sup] of Mark Twain’s book Life on the Mississippi, he claims that the drainage area of the Mississippi extends from Delaware to Idaho. I’m not so sure this is right, or was right when he wrote it or even was right before various canals were dug.

OK, Idaho, I can see. There may be some little corner of it that drains into one of the Missouri tributaries. But Delaware? I have a hard time swallowing that. Anyone know the Straight Dope?
[sup]1[/sup] In fact, in the first paragraph.

2

Google, “mississippi watershed map”.

http://www.nps.gov/miss/programs/brj/brjpdfs/watershed_blank.pdf

Stand up and look at it sideways on the monitor–the dotted line is the watershed. Looks like he was using a bit of hyperbole, it only reaches to the middle of Pennsylvania.

That goes with the kids’ worksheet here. Print it all out and play with it! :smiley:

http://www.nps.gov/miss/programs/brj/brjactivities/mapping.html