Mississippi River Cameras: 2 Ways to View the Mississippi River LIVE Right Now

One of the most popular rivers in the world is the Mississippi River. The Mississippi is the second-largest river in North America at 2,350 miles long, slightly shorter than the Missouri River, which is the longest river in the United States. Lake Itasca in Minnesota, about 200 miles northeast of the Twin Cities, is where the Mississippi River begins. The river starts out small, around 20 to 30 feet broad at this point. At this beginning point, the Mississippi River is just around 18 inches deep.

Due to the river’s immense popularity, it is now possible to see the river live from anywhere in the world. If you’re interested in finding out how you can see the live action of the Mississippi river from wherever you are, keep reading.

The Mississippi River

Over the years, the Mississippi River has served different purposes for different people. Native Americans used the river as a source of food and a means of transportation while they lived along its banks. Early European explorers also used the river to travel through and up to the northernmost regions of what would eventually become the United States. When the surrounding area of the Mississippi was still a frontier, fur traders operated on the river, and military from numerous nations stationed troops at various times along the river at crucial spots. 

The Mississippi is still as important in this present age, maybe even more. Nowadays, towns all along the Mississippi River use it to get fresh water and dispose of their industrial and municipal trash. Additionally, the Mississippi supports a $12.6 billion shipping industry with 35,300 jobs and supplies millions of people with drinking water. 

Also, it carries trade and food for the entire world, making it one of the greatest waterways on the planet. The Little Mississippi, which runs above the Ohio River confluence, is used to barge half of the country’s maize and soybean production. Because of its undeniable importance, the popularity of the river has increased over the years. It has gotten so popular to the point where so many people around the world just want to watch the river, and it is now possible to watch the river LIVE from anywhere in the world. Here are a few ways to do that:

#2: EarthCam and the Waterview Casino & Hotel

Earthcam is one of the leading companies that specialize in providing webcam content, technology, and services. The company started out in 1996, is headquartered in Northern New Jersey, and maintains 12 additional offices worldwide. The business is well-known for offering webcam technology and managed services that include live streaming video, time-lapse cameras, and 360-degree reality capture for various types of clients, including government agencies in cities worldwide. It was established as a way to take people to tourist-worthy and distinctive locations around the globe that might be challenging or impossible to visit in person.

Alongside Waterview Casino & Hotel, Earthcam introduced an option for a live stream of the Mississippi River in real-time. Waterview Casino & Hotel sits in the Vicksburg area of Mississippi, overlooking the Old Vicksburg Bridge, also known as the Mississippi River Bridge, one of the most picturesque bridges in the world. This cantilever bridge is recognized on the National Register of Historic Places, and while the bridge is in full view through this live stream, the camera also captures an outstanding view of the Horseshoe Bend of the river from an angle where it is easy to observe the river traffic.

#1: The Raptor Resource Project

The non-profit organization Raptor Resource Project was founded in 1988 and is dedicated to the protection of falcons, eagles, ospreys, hawks, and owls. The organization started out with the goals of preserving and enhancing raptor populations, increasing engagement in raptor preservation, and assisting in the development of the following generation of conservationists. As an NGO, all of its research and rescue work is funded by mostly donations. Overall, the NGO uses the donations it receives to work to ensure the general health and well-being of all birds, particularly birds of prey.

In partnership with the Upper Mississippi National Fish and Wildlife Refuge, the Brice Prairie Conservation Association, Riverland Energy Co-Op, and Explore.org, the Raptor Resource Project started a live stream of the Mississippi River. The camera project started as a way to watch how birds act with each other on the river and also migrating birds. Volunteers helped transport people and supplies with a ferry to and from the island, erect two utility poles, and install solar panels, a power source, camera assembly, and radios. They also helped set up the camera, which is situated in the Upper Mississippi National Fish and Wildlife Refuge on Lake Onalaska.

Lake Onalaska is a popular location to enjoy outdoor activities including fishing, boating, and bird viewing. It is 7,688 acres (31.11 km2) in size. In the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge in the state of Wisconsin, this moving HD webcam shows a stunning panorama of Lake Onalaska. The stunning lake, teeming with animals like migratory waterfowl, is captured in real-time on the Mississippi River Flyway Cam, and the live view is brought to you by explore.org, the world’s largest live nature cam network.

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The photo featured at the top of this post is © Maarten Daams/Shutterstock.com