Ol' Man River: The Mighty Mississippi

Released: 2007-08-06

Runtime: 51 minutes

Episode Overview

Its catchment basin is the size of the Indian subcontinent and, at nearly 2.400 miles, it is the third longest river in the world. Come journey along the Mississippi from its mouth in the salt marshes of the Gulf Coast to its source deep in the northern forests near the Canadian border.

Series Overview

Travel from the steamy delta beyond New Orleans, upstream to headwaters in great northern swamps, and along the Mississippi's greatest tributary, the Missouri. The crew encounter a wealth of wildlife, from tropical manatees to ancient horseshoe crabs, primitive giant fish, colorful herons, industrious beavers, deadly rattlesnakes, herds of buffalo, and prairie dog colonies. Dramatic reconstructions illustrate what the river was like when the first explorers encountered it, meeting Indian tribes and witnessing new wildlife spectacles.