Which river is known as the 'Father of Waters'?

The Mississippi River is known as the “Father of Waters.” The nickname reflects the river's immense influence on the geography, history, agriculture, transport, and culture of the United States.

The name Mississippi comes from an Ojibwe term commonly translated as “Great River.” Native American nations had lived along the river and its tributaries for thousands of years before European exploration. In 1541, the Spanish expedition led by Hernando de Soto became the first recorded European expedition to reach it; de Soto called it Río del Espíritu Santo, or “River of the Holy Spirit.”

From its traditional source at Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the Mississippi flows roughly 2,350 miles south to the Gulf of Mexico. Its watershed drains all or parts of 32 U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. The Missouri and Ohio rivers are major tributaries, and their combined system makes the Mississippi one of North America's defining waterways.

The river has also shaped literature and popular culture, especially through Mark Twain's writings. “Old Man River” and “The Mighty Mississippi” are other familiar nicknames.