America's Mississippi

It starts as a stream in Minnesota, before the big rush south, carrying with it some of nature's most endearing creatures, from raccoons and black bears to mayflies that only live for a day.

For much of its 2,300 mile ramble south, America's largest river brings life to heartland USA's farms and rural communities, but on the water, life is unpredictable for humans and wildlife.

An unstoppable force, it gathers water from its many tributaries, the Missouri and Ohio, and shapes an amazing landscape.