Download - MISSISSIPPI’S RESOURCES
CHAPTER 2
MISSISSIPPI’S RESOURCES
Natural Resources are products that come directly from the Earth
Two TypesRenewable Nonrenewable
Natural Resources
Mississippi has 3 main resourcesSoilForestWater
SoilMost abundant resourceVital to agriculture economyDelta – some of most fertile soil in worldMust have soil to grow anything else - trees
MISSISSIPPI’S RESOURCES
ForestThe Piney Woods experienced an economic
boom for fifty years due to its forestsEconomic BoomEconomy
Trees were cleared for lumber, houses, farms, etc…
Problems with cutting down the treesWildlife disappeared when habitat goneCaused increase of erosion
No trees to hold the soil
MISSISSIPPI’S RESOURCES
Forest Continued 56% of MS’s land is covered in forestMain uses for forest: lumber, paper, and
Masonite boards 2 heavily forested areas in MS
Piney WoodsNortheast Highlands
2 commercial types of trees Hardwoods – oak and hickorySoftwoods – Pine (most of our wood products are
made out of pine)
Mississippi’s Resources
WaterOne of MS most important and most abundant resourcesTwo types of water
Ground waterSurface water
Early transportation routesRivers & Stream
The First Mississippians made their homes on the banks of rivers and streamsReasons: food, water, transportation, and trade
Fears about waterIndustrial Pollution threatSewage runoffChemicals used in farming
MISSISSIPPI’S RESOURCES
Water (continued)Aquifer – underground reservoir of trapped water
In layers of sand and gravelGood water usually found 25-30 feet deep
Cistern – large underground tank made out of brick or stone that rainwater could drain intoTightly covered – good, clean water
DiseaseCholera – quickly spreading & deadly disease spread by
human waste getting into water supplies
MISSISSIPPI’S RESOURCES
The MS River has influenced the state in the following waysIndians used it for travel and trade It was used as a landmark by explorers Gaining control of it was part of the North’s
strategy for winning the Civil War Natchez and Vicksburg were two of MS’s
early towns built on the MS River
MISSISSIPPI RIVERS
MS has 3 water boundariesMS RiverPearl RiverMS Sound
Gulf Coast between land and 4 barrier islands East to West: Cat, Ship, Horn, & Petit Bois
80 miles long & 15 miles wideShallow in most places
MS River drains 2/3 of USA – Rockies to Appalachians
Early transportation depended on riversRoads & highways only effective in last 100 yearsCanoes, flatboats, & steamboats were used
RIVERS
Rivers in MS are dividedRivers in the west all flow to the MS RiverRivers in the east all flow to the MS Sound or Mobile
Bay2 Major Tributaries in the West
Yazoo River – formed at Greenwood by Tallahatchie & Yalobusha Rivers
Big Black River – formed in east central MS near Maben
2 Major Tributaries in the EastTombigbee River – Northeast MS to Mobile BayPascagoula River – ‘Singing River’ – flows to MS Sound
MISSISSIPPI RIVERS
Central MS – JacksonCapital sits on banks of Pearl RiverFlows through middle of state to MS Sound
Mississippi River constantly changing courseState line vs river bedOxbow lakes
MISSISSIPPI RIVERS
OXBOW LAKES
MISSISSIPPI RIVERS
Reservoirs – man made lakes used in MS to help control flooding in the Delta and provide recreation
5 Reservoirs (from North to South)Arkabutla on Coldwater RiverSardis on Tallahatchie RiverEnid on Yocona RiverGrenada on Yalobusha RiverRoss Barnett on the Pearl
MISSISSIPPI RESERVOIRS
The state is prone to flooding because of its location on the MS River
When the river overflows the extra water is trapped in wetlandsWetlands – flood plain
The wetlands are MS most productive habitats
There have been two floods in MS1927 was the worst in MS’s history 2011
PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES
There are four ways to prevent flooding 1. levee – wall made mainly of dirt to hold back
the waterPrimary way of controlling flooding
2. channelization is when the river is widened and straightened
3. cutoff is when a channel is created through the neck of the river bend
4. diversion is when the river is diverted into another body of water
PROTECETING OUR RESOURCES
Rebuilding the forest Reforestation is the replanting of the forestsMississippi Forestry Commission was
established to protect and replant the forest Reasons for reforestation
Oxygen Building materials Habitats
PROTECTING OUR RESOURCES
MS does not have great mineral deposits
Some coal, iron & aluminum ore depositsNot big enough to be developed commercially
Most important minerals:Petroleum, natural gas, gravel, and sand
Not a lot of oil on national scale but someOil first found in Tinsley, MS in Yazoo County
Minerals
VardamanSweet Potato Capital of the World
GreenwoodCotton Capital of the World
BiloxiOyster & Shrimp Capital of the World
MizeWatermelon Capital of the World
BelzoniFarm-Raised Catfish Capital of the World
Mississippi Product Capitals
Soil ErosionEarly farmers were not educated in care and
use of landLand was abundant and cheap Topsoil washed into rivers and streamsWays to restore the soil’s fruitfulness
FertilizersRotating crops
Over hunting and over fishing have caused a reduction in certain animals As a result we have hunting laws
RECLAIMING RESOURCES