BUT the basin of the Mississippi is the BODY OF THE NATION. All the
other parts are but members, important in themselves, yet more
important in their relations to this. Exclusive of the Lake basin
and of 300,000 square miles in Texas and New Mexico, which in many
aspects form a part of it, this basin contains about 1,250,000
square miles. In extent it is the second great valley of the world,
being exceeded only by that of the Amazon. The valley of the frozen
Obi approaches it in extent; that of La Plata comes next in space,
and probably in habitable capacity, having about eight-ninths of
its area; then comes that of the Yenisei, with about seven-ninths;
the Lena, Amoor, Hoang-ho, Yang-tse-kiang, and Nile, five-ninths;
the Ganges, less than one-half; the Indus, less than one-third; the
Euphrates, one-fifth; the Rhine, one-fifteenth. It exceeds in
extent the whole of Europe, exclusive of Russia, Norway, and
Sweden. IT WOULD CONTAIN AUSTRIA FOUR TIMES, GERMANY OR SPAIN FIVE
TIMES, FRANCE SIX TIMES, THE BRITISH ISLANDS OR ITALY TEN TIMES.
Conceptions formed from the river-basins of Western Europe are
rudely shocked when we consider the extent of the valley of the
Mississippi; nor are those formed from the sterile basins of the
great rivers of Siberia, the lofty plateaus of Central Asia, or the
mighty sweep of the swampy Amazon more adequate. Latitude,
elevation, and rainfall all combine to render every part of the
Mississippi Valley capable of supporting a dense population. AS A
DWELLING-PLACE FOR CIVILIZED MAN IT IS BY FAR THE FIRST UPON OUR
GLOBE.
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