John Ruskey has come to refer to the Mississippi River as his “mighty queen." (Peter O'Dowd/Here & Now) Few people see the Mississippi River the way John Ruskey does.

Levels will begin falling shortly after. The Mississippi River at Baton Rouge is currently in the moderate stage at 39.24 feet. It is expected to reach major flood stage, over 40 feet, by Thursday.

In Greenville, Mississippi, the river is expected to crest at 52.5 feet on April 22. Power outages and business shutdowns are anticipated as water threatens ports and grain terminals.

The Great River Road offers a scenic way to see the dozens of towns and cities along the banks of the Mississippi River. This is what to know.

New research shows that typically, less than 10% of land-building alluvium reaches the Bird’s Foot Delta region, the southernmost reach of the river, where it meets the Gulf.