Mississippi Basin river Castle Peak

Castle Peak

Data Source: 3DEP

Image credit and data processing: Atlas of Change

meandering river with natural flood cycles that nourished expansive wetlands and biodiverse habitats

Mississippi Basin river Castle PeakThe damming of the Mississippi River Valley in the 19th and 20th centuries transformed one of Americas most vibrant ecosystems into a heavily managed waterway, reshaping both its physical landscape and the socio economic dynamics along its banks. Originally a wild, meandering river with natural flood cycles that nourished expansive wetlands and biodiverse habitats, the Mississippi became a tool for human ambition. With locks, dams, and levees