NEW ORLEANS -- Mississippi River ships and barges carry over 500 million tons of cargo through the Southwest Pass shipping channel at the river's end to reach major ports that handle 18% of U.S.
Before artificial levee construction, the river avulsed and a new delta was constructed every 1,000–1,500 yr: the active Plaquemines–Balize Delta began to form about 1,000 yr ago, and was for some ...