Life on the Mississippi

The Mississippi basin is portrayed as the vital heart of the nation, surpassing other regions in both size and significance. Covering approximately 1,250,000 square miles, it ranks as the world's second-largest valley, only behind the Amazon. The text emphasizes its vastness, capable of containing multiple European countries, and highlights its potential for supporting a dense population due to favorable latitude, elevation, and rainfall. This region is presented as the premier habitat for civilized life on Earth, challenging preconceived notions based on smaller river basins.