<P> From its origin at Lake Itasca to St. Louis , Missouri , the waterway 's flow is moderated by 43 dams . Fourteen of these dams are located above Minneapolis in the headwaters region and serve multiple purposes , including power generation and recreation . The remaining 29 dams , beginning in downtown Minneapolis , all contain locks and were constructed to improve commercial navigation of the upper river . Taken as a whole , these 43 dams significantly shape the geography and influence the ecology of the upper river . Beginning just below Saint Paul , Minnesota , and continuing throughout the upper and lower river , the Mississippi is further controlled by thousands of wing dikes that moderate the river 's flow in order to maintain an open navigation channel and prevent the river from eroding its banks . </P>
<P> From its origin at Lake Itasca to St. Louis , Missouri , the waterway 's flow is moderated by 43 dams . Fourteen of these dams are located above Minneapolis in the headwaters region and serve multiple purposes , including power generation and recreation . The remaining 29 dams , beginning in downtown Minneapolis , all contain locks and were constructed to improve commercial navigation of the upper river . Taken as a whole , these 43 dams significantly shape the geography and influence the ecology of the upper river . Beginning just below Saint Paul , Minnesota , and continuing throughout the upper and lower river , the Mississippi is further controlled by thousands of wing dikes that moderate the river 's flow in order to maintain an open navigation channel and prevent the river from eroding its banks . </P>
where is the beginning of the mississippi river located
where is the beginning of the mississippi river located
Lake Itasca
Lake Itasca