Mississippi Delta

Last updated : 03/18/2016

The Mississippi Delta lies between the Mississippi and Yazoo Rivers. The extremely flat topography and deep fertile alluvial soils were formed by thousands of years of regular flooding. The Mississippi Delta, not to be confused with the Mississippi River Delta, is part of the Mississippi Alluvial Valley. The Delta is 60 miles at its widest point from the Yazoo River to the Mississippi River and is actually the delta of the Yazoo River.

In addition to constituting a geographical area, the Mississippi Delta is a sociological region as well – with a unique culture. It has been said that the Delta 'begins in the lobby of the Peabody Hotel in Memphis and ends on Catfish Row in Vicksburg.' The Delta has also been referred to as 'the deepest South,' 'the South's South,' and the 'most southern place on earth.'

Regardless of culture and custom, the Delta is defined by water. Nearly forty percent of North America drains through its lands. The vast network of rivers, bayous, oxbow lakes, brakes, swamps and sloughs together with flooded fields and green tree reservoirs create a duck hunting paradise second to none. The Mississippi Alluvial Valley, of which the Delta is a part, is the continent’s most important wintering habitat for mallards and wood ducks, while other species, such as canvasbacks, gadwalls, pintails, shovelers, green-winged teal, wigeon, Canadian geese, snow geese and speckled belly geese also are common winter residents. Duck hunting in Mississippi is abundant.

The following counties make up the Mississippi Delta: DeSoto, Tunica, Panola, Coahoma, Quitman, Tallahatchie, Leflore, Carroll, Holmes, Sunflower, Humphreys, Washington, Bolivar, Yazoo, Sharkey, Issaquena, and Warren.