Why does the Red River flow north, and the Mississippi River flow south??
Why not?
Water flows from higher levels to lower levels. Map directions have no influence on the ways rivers flow.
@ Ms.Sue. I know the map directions have to influence on how the river flows... that's not what I'm asking.
The source of the Red River is south of its mouth. It flows down hill to the north to reach its mouth. The source of the Mississippi is north of its mouth and flows down hill to its mouth.
The Nile River in Africa and the Rhine River in Europe flow north. The Amazon and Missouri Rivers flow east.
All rivers start on higher ground and flow down hill.
The direction in which a river flows is primarily determined by the landscape and topography of the surrounding area, as well as the location of its source (the place where it begins). The flow of a river is influenced by the force of gravity, which causes water to move from higher elevations to lower elevations.
Now, let's look at the Red River and the Mississippi River. The Red River flows northward, while the Mississippi River flows southward.
The Red River flows from the southern region of the United States, starting in the Texas Panhandle and forming part of the border between Texas and Oklahoma. It then continues northward, passing through the states of Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana, before eventually emptying into the Mississippi River.
The reason for the northward flow of the Red River is primarily due to the slope of its surrounding landscape. The area of the Red River Basin generally has a higher elevation in its southern part and gradually slopes downward as it moves northward. The force of gravity pulls the water along this downward slope, causing the river to flow in a northern direction.
On the other hand, the Mississippi River flows southward. The river has its source in Lake Itasca, located in the state of Minnesota. From there, it flows southward, passing through several states before exiting into the Gulf of Mexico.
The southward flow of the Mississippi River can be attributed to the topography of its surrounding landscape. The river starts in an area with a higher elevation and gradually descends as it moves southward. The force of gravity then causes the water to flow in a southerly direction, towards lower elevations.
To summarize:
- The Red River flows northward due to a gradual slope in its surrounding landscape from south to north.
- The Mississippi River flows southward because it originates from a higher elevation in the north and gradually descends as it moves towards the Gulf of Mexico.
Understanding the geographic and topographic features of a particular region helps in explaining the direction of river flows.